Mutations in Hepatitis-B X-Gene Region: Chronic Hepatitis-B versus Cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: Specific mutations in Hepatitis-B Virus (HBV) genome would proceed the development of chronic hepatitis B to more serious consequences like cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.

AIM: This study was designed to detect deletion and insertion mutational patterns in the X-gene region in a population of chronic HBV and related cirrhosis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty eight chronic HBV patients and 34 HBV-related cirrhotics were recruited from the eligible cases (N=50) referred to the academic hospitals of Gorgan city, Northeast of Iran, between Jan 2011 to Dec 2013. The HBx region was amplified by semi-nested PCR using serum samples and analyzed by sequencing.

RESULTS: Our findings showed deletions and insertions in the C-terminal of HBx of the cirrhotic group and 8 bp found in two chronic HBV cases (2.9%). We detected 15 types of deletions in cirrhotic cases such as 1762-1768, 1763-1770, 1769-1773 and T1771/A1775.

CONCLUSION: We found that the frequencies of deletion and insertion mutations in C-terminal of X-gene were more seen in cirrhotic patients comparing to chronic HBV cases in our area of study.