Clinical course of monoclonal and oligoclonal gammopathies in patients infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi.

Although we have encountered many cases of monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) or oligoclonal gammopathies (OGs) in patients with Orientia tsutsugamushi infections, the clinical course of MG/OG associated with these infections has rarely been reported. We serially monitored 18 cases of MG/OG that appeared in the acute phase or early convalescent phase of scrub typhus. All MGs/OGs associated with infection with O.

[Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Korea].

Background/aims: Considering the incidence of prevailing hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in neighboring nations, the predominance of genotype C in Korea is exceptional and needs to be confirmed by nationwide investigation.

Methods: A total of 510 HBsAg (+) or HBeAg (+) serum samples was collected from subjects in several cities and harbors throughout the Korean peninsula for genotype (A-G)-specific multiplex PCR analysis. Another 40 serum samples from chronic HBV carriers from Iksan city were selected for sequencing of the entire HBV genome.