Hepatitis B virus genotypes B and C do not affect the antiviral response to lamivudine.

To date, there have been no studies examining the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes on the response to lamivudine therapy and the development of YMDD mutations. The present study aimed at determining any differences in the antiviral response and risk of YMDD mutations between lamivudine-treated patients with HBV genotype B and genotype C. Eighty-two patients receiving lamivudine were recruited. HBV genotypes at baseline and YMDD mutations at week 52 were determined by line probe assays (LiPA). HBV DNA levels were determined by the Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor Test. Seventeen (20.7%) and sixty-four (78%) patients had single genotypes of B and C, respectively. At both week 24 and 52 there were no differences in the median reduction of HBV DNA levels (median 4 logs drop), the median reduction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and the proportion with normalization of ALT [8/8 (100%) vs 26/37 (70.3%), P=0.19] between patients with genotypes B and C. The rate of HBeAg seroconversion [3/17 (17.6%) vs 6/64 (9.4%), P=0.39] and the chance of YMDD mutation development [3/17 (17.6%) vs 12/64 (18.8%), P=1.0] at week 52 were also similar between patients with genotype B and C, respectively. In conclusion, there was no difference in the antiviral response and the rate of development of YMDD mutations in Chinese patients with genotype B and C after 1 year of lamivudine. Determination of HBV genotypes before lamivudine therapy was probably not an important pretreatment investigation to predict antiviral responses in Chinese patients.