Genotypic shift of the hepatitis A virus and its clinical impact on acute hepatitis A in Korea: a nationwide multicenter study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The genotypic shift of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and its correlation with clinical course has not been evaluated in acute hepatitis A (AHA).

METHODS:

From June 2007 to May 2009, we prospectively enrolled 546 AHA patients. We performed a nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using the serum samples in addition to phylogenetic analysis, then we compared patient clinical features.

RESULTS:

Among 351 successfully genotyped patients, we found genotype IIIA in 178 patients (51%) and IA in 173 patients (49%). The sequences of genotype IA are identical to previously reported Korean genotype IA, and the new IIIA genotype is closely related to NOR24/Norway. We retrospectively analyzed 41 AHA samples collected from 2000 to 2006 and found that all of them were genotype IA. Patients with genotype IIIA showed significantly higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase, higher levels of alanine aminotransferase, and lower platelet counts than patients with genotype IA when comparing baseline laboratory data or peak/lowest laboratory data during the disease course. However, there were no differences in duration of hospital stay, incidence of cholestatic hepatitis, acute kidney injury, and acute liver failure, or mortality between them.

CONCLUSIONS:

A genotypic shift of the HAV was identified in Korean AHA subjects, and genotype IIIA HAV has become endemic. Although there were significant differences in the biochemical responses of AHA between genotype IA and genotype IIIA patients, we did not detect any differences in clinical outcomes such as complications or mortality.

• Authors: Ji Hoon Kim, Jong Eun Yeon, Soon Koo Baik, Young Seok Kim, Hong Soo Kim, Sang Hoon Park, Myung-Seok Lee, Joo Hyun Sohn, Jin-Woo Lee, Sung Kyu Choi, So Young Kwon, Jong Young Choi, Ju Hyun Kim, Soon Young Kang, Hyonggin An, Yeon Seok Seo, Hyung Joon Yim, Jin-Won Song, Soon Ho Um, Kwan Soo Byun
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases (Scand J Infect Dis) Vol. 45 Issue 11 Pg. 811-8 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 1651-1980 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23826788 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Endemic Diseases
• Female
• Genotype
• Hepatitis A (epidemiology, virology)
• Hepatitis A Virus, Human (classification, genetics, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Phylogeny
• Prevalence
• Prospective Studies
• RNA, Viral (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Republic of Korea (epidemiology)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• Serum (virology)
• Young Adult