Genotyping of hepatitis B virus in a cohort of patients evaluated in a hospital of Porto Alegre, South of Brazil.

CONTEXT In recent years the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotyping has been considered a relevant factor in the natural history of the disease. OBJECTIVE To determine hepatitis B virus genotypes and its epidemiological and clinical implications, in a cohort of patients in a hospital in Porto Alegre, South of Brazil. METHODS Sixty seven patients with HBV chronic infection markers who were being treated at ''Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa'', in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, were evaluated. Demographic and epidemiological data were collected from these group of patients by following a standard protocol and ALT and HBeAg were determined. The genotypes and subtypes were determined by in-house PCR and, finally, the samples were sequenced. The level of significance used was 5%. RESULTS The qualitative analysis for HBV-DNA by PCR was positive in 79.1% of the samples (53/67). The genotype was determined in all positive VHB-DNA samples and the genotypes A (34%), D (60.4%) and F (5.4%) as well as the subtypes adw, ayw and adw4 were found. No significant correlation was found between the hepatitis B virus genotypes and demographic variables considered as risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection. There was also no correlation between the genotypes and the serological and laboratory variables related to liver disease. CONCLUSION We concluded that the most prevalent genotype found was D. However, further studies are needed to allow us to evaluate the implications of genetic variability in the clinical evolution of HBV carriers.