Objective: To study the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and liver fibrosis.
Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was employed to determine HBV genotypes in 298 HBV-related liver disease patients, including 73 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 53 with liver cirrhosis, 91 with chronic hepatitis B and 82 asymptomatic HBV carriers to analyze the relationship of HBV genotypes with serum fibrous indices and serum albumin and globulin (A/G) ratio.
Results: B and C genotypes were dominant in patients with HBV-related hepatic diseases in Guangdong province. The levels of serum fibrous indices were significantly higher in patients with genotype C than in those with genotype B, and the former patients also had lower A/G ratio.
Conclusion: Patients with HBV genotype C may sustain more serious liver injury.