Epidemiology and Genotyping of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Genotype Shifting Observed in Patients from Central Europe.

Background: Knowledge on HBV prevalence and genotype distribution in Europe still is hampered by lack of coherent data sampling, small numbers of patients studied so far, and also modern times migration which influences both parameters in a quite dynamic manner. To find out whether HBV prevalence and genotype distribution has undergone any significant changes over the past decades, we have analyzed our cohort of HBV patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of virological data and correlation with the epidemiological backgrounds of 408 chronically HBV-infected patients, followed in the year 2009 at Tübingen Virus Hepatitis Center, Germany.