Objective: To investigate the distribution of Hepatitis B virus genotypes and subgenotypes among patients with chronic hepatitis B in Xinjiang Uighur.
Methods: The HBV genotypes and subgenotypes were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 109 patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Results: Two HBV genotypes, genotype C (45.9%) and genotype C/D (29.4%) were prevalent, genotype B (8.3%) and genotype D (16.5%) were also found in Xinjiang Uighur. Genotype C had two subgenotypes, C1 (54%) and C2 (46%). Genotype B had only one subgenotype, i.e. Ba. The subgenotype C2 was associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Conclusion: In Uygurs, the most common HBV genotypes were C and C/D, and the subgenotype C2 was associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.