Infectious source factors affecting the severity of sexually transmitted acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype C.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and virological aspects of infectious sources that are related to the severity of sexually transmitted acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients, especially in cases of genotype C.

Methods: Nineteen patients with acute HBV infection, 10 classified with severe acute hepatitis (SH) (prothrombin time; PT <40%) and 9 with typical acute hepatitis (AH) (PT >40%), and their infectious sources (all were sexual partners) were studied. Infectious source factors were analyzed in relation to the severity of hepatitis in the patients' partners.

In vivo immunization by vaccine therapy following virus suppression by lamivudine: a novel approach for treating patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Both the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the immune response of the hosts to HBV play important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Lamivudine is a potent antiviral agent with minimal immune modulator capacity. Moreover, lamivudine causes severe side effects like breakthrough of HBV DNA and breakthrough hepatitis in patients with CHB.