Hepatitis B virus genotypes, precore mutations, and basal core promoter mutations in HBV-infected Chinese patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase and low serum HBV-DNA levels

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and precore and basal core promoter (BCP) mutants in the patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and low serum HBV-DNA levels are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine HBV genotypes, precore and BCP mutations, and their association with chronic hepatitis and liver fibrosis in HBV-infected patients with persistently normal ALT, and low serum HBV-DNA levels in northeast China. Patients (n = 89) with normal ALT and serum HBV-DNA levels below 20000 IU/mL but detectable with real-time PCR were included in this study. HBV genotypes ...