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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2014; 20(18): 5427-5434
Published online May 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5427
Published online May 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5427
Hepatitis B virus genotypes: Global distribution and clinical importance
Mustafa Sunbul, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139 Samsun, Turkey
Author contributions: Sunbul M contributed to the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mustafa Sunbul, MD, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Atakum, 55139 Samsun, Turkey. msunbul@omu.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-362-3121919 Fax: +90-362-4576029
Received: September 30, 2013
Revised: November 20, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: May 14, 2014
Revised: November 20, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: May 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and death worldwide. The clinical course and consequences of HBV infection are affected by several factors such as viral load, mutation, host, environment, and viral genotypes. Different HBV genotypes are associated with different mutations in the HBV precore and core promoter gene regions. HBV genotypes are closely related with optimal treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B patients and clinical outcomes.