Author/Authors :
Kmet Lunacek Nina نويسنده Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia , Poljak Mario نويسنده Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia , Meglic-Volkar Jelka نويسنده Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia , Rajter Mojca نويسنده Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia , Prah Janja نويسنده Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia , Lesnicar Gorazd نويسنده Department of Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions,
General Hospital Celje, Slovenia , Selic Kurincic Tanja نويسنده Department of Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions,
General Hospital Celje, Slovenia , Baklan Zvonko نويسنده Department of Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Clinical Centre Maribor, Slovenia , Remec Tatajana نويسنده General Hospital Novo mesto, Slovenia , Pal Emil نويسنده General Hospital Murska Sobota, Slovenia , Markocic Petra نويسنده Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia , Lunar Maja نويسنده Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia , Maticic Mojca نويسنده Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses,
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract :
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes have been shown to
have virological, clinical, and therapeutic implications. Knowledge
about HBV genotype distribution in Slovenia is scarce. This study was
the first to determine various characteristics of patients with chronic
HBV infection with regard to HBV genotypes at the national level.
Methods HBV genotype determination was performed on randomly selected
patients out of 1,729 patients from all Slovenian regions who tested
positive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) at the national reference
laboratory for viral hepatitis between January 1997 and December 2010.
Demographic, epidemiological, virological, and clinical data were
extracted from the medical records and statistically analyzed with
regard to HBV genotypes. Results A total of 186 HBsAg positive patients
with the mean age of 40.1 years were identified from whom, 65.1% were
male. 157 (84.4%) cases presented with genotype D, 23 (12.4%) with
genotype A, and 6 (3.2%) with other HBV genotypes. Sexual transmission
was more significantly associated with lower odds for HBV genotype D
infection compared to blood-related risk factors (P = 0.023). Genotype A
was significantly more common in men who had sex with men (P = 0.043).
Compared to females with genotype D, genotype A positive women presented
unknown risk factors more significantly (P = 0.002). Conclusions HBV
genotype D is the most prevalent genotype in Slovenia. However, future
changes might be expected due to recent massive immigrations to Europe.
Routine HBV genotyping is recommended in patients with certain risk
factors prior to initiation of hepatitis B treatment.
