Abstract

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, the presence of precore/core region mutations were uncovered by the examination of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) DeoxyriboNucleicAcid (DNA) that is isolated from patient samples with anti-HBe seroconversion without viral replication loss. In this study, the frequency of precore/core mutations were investigated on serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODS

From a total of 100, 69 anti-HBe and HBV DNA positive, and 31 HBeAg and HBV DNA positive samples were included in the study to determine the mutations with the INNO-LIPA method at the Serology laboratory. During statistical analyses, SPSS v11.5 was utilized and chi-square and variance analysis (ANOVA) tests conducted.

RESULTS

The precore mutations were detected in 68 samples, while the core promoter mutations were present in 57. Mutations were detected at the precore region in 11 out of 31 HBeAg positive (35%), and 57 out of 69 anti-HBe positive samples (83%). Likewise, the core promoter region was affected in 10 out of 31 HBeAg (32%), and 47 out of 69 anti-HBe positive samples (68%). Both precore and core promoter mutations were substantially higher in the anti-HBe positive group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

As a result, since precore/core mutations were prevalent in samples obtained from the study group, it is our opinion that careful attention must be paid to such occurrences during the diagnosis and treatment phases for chronic hepatitis B patients.