Background
/ Aims : Hepatitis B virus(HBV) genotype have distinct geographic distributions. The possibility of pathogenic difference among HBV genotypes has been suggested. We investigated the prevalence of HBV genotypes in Korea and the association between distinct genotypes and clinical outcomes. Methods : Using a PCR-RFLP and sequencing, HBV genotypes were determined in 136 patients with chronic type B hepatitis. Results : The genotype C was detected in 131 patients(96.3%), and other 5 patients(3.7%) had genotype B. There were no significant differences in sex, age, disease duration, ALT level, HBeAg/anti-HBe status, or HBeAg loss between genotype B and C patients. Conclusion : These results suggest that almost all patients with chronic hepatitis B are infected with genotype C. Genotypes do not influence the outcome of chronic hepatitis B patients in Korea. (Korean J Hepatol 200 1;7 :38 1- 386 )

Background
/Aim: A significant correlation between HBV DNA and liver damage was found in precore mutant strains but there was no significant association between viral replication and liver damage in HBeAg positive patients. Laboratory tests are often requested to predict hepatitis activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage) in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. We assessed ALT, AST, and HBV-branched DNA to find which is the best for predicting hepatitis activity and fibrosis. Methods: Routine biochemical liver function tests and HBV DNA in sera were assessed in 119 young patients positive with HBsAg and HBeAg. The mean age of patients was 21±2 years. All patients were male. By logistic regression analysis the relationships between laboratory data, hepatitis activity, fibrosis, or risk of chronic active hepatitis were analyzed. Results: There was a significant correlation between aminotransferase (AST, ALT) and hepatitis activity/ fibrosis. A significant inverse relationship between the HBV bDNA and hepatitis activity was demonstrated (Pearson's correlation coefficient: lobular activity,-0.305; porto-periportal activity, -0.410). But HBV bDNA was not correlated with severity of fibrosis. AST and HBV bDNA was the important test for predicting the more severe hepatitis activity (lobular activity and porto-periportal activity: score≥3, respectively) Conclusion: The higher AST, but the lower HBV bDNA, in sera shows the more severe hepatitis activity. AST and HBV bDNA could be helpful for assessing the hepatitis activity in young male patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B if proper reference values are used.(Korean J Hepatol 2002;8:44-51)