Abstract

X GENE VARIABILITY AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) IN SUDANESE PATIENTS WITH LIVER DISEASES, KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Abosufyan Salama*, Shamsoun Kafi, Abdelmounem Abdo, Muzamil Mahdi and Sarra Alfadil

Abstract

Background: HBx gene mutations may have a role in the progression of liver disease from chronic infection to liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. These mutations affect the biological functions of HBx protein, which may influence the development of liver disease. The aim of this study was to describe the variability of HBx gene among hepatitis B patients, find out the prevalent genotypes and possible association of different genotypes with HBV infection outcome. Methods: A total of 185 hepatitis B patients, 88 asymptomatic carriers(ASC), 39 chronic hepatitis(CH), 38 liver cirrhosis(LC) and 20 with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) were recruited to participate in this study. HBx gene positive products were sequenced and genotyped. Nucleotide and amino acid variability were determined. Results: HBx DNA of nineteen patients was successfully amplified. HBx30, HBx127, HBx130 and HBx131 were the most detected mutations in HCC and LC patients. Double mutations K130M/V131I and F30L/V mutation were associated with high risk of LC and HCC development. Our study found that the most prevalent genotype was genotype D (47.4%), followed by E (42.1%) and A (10.5%). Patients with genotype E had ALT elevation exceeding 1.5 times than those with genotype D and A. Conclusions: HBx30, HBx130 and HBx131 mutations were associated with liver disease progression from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. These mutations may be useful markers for predicting the clinical course of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Keywords: HBV, genotyp, HBx gene, hepatocellular carcinoma, asymptomatic carriers, chronic hepatitis B.