Abstract
BACKGROUND: As most HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have concurrent cirrhosis, it is important to clarify the association of viral factors with ACLF with or without cirrhosis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of HBV genotypes and mutations with ACLF development underlying different chronic liver diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven ACLF patients including 29 patients with chronic hepatitis (ACLF-CHB) and 58 patients with liver cirrhosis (ACLF-LC) were enrolled. Age and sex matched patients with chronic hepatitis (CHB) and liver cirrhosis (LC) were enrolled as controls. The genotypes and mutations at HBV basic core promoter (BCP), precore (PC), and partial C regions were determined by nested PCR and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Our results revealed significantly higher incidences (P < 0.05) of genotype B with C1913A/G or A1846T in patients with ACLF-CHB than those with CHB; genotype C with C1913A/G or A1846T in patients with ACLF-CHB and ACLF-LC than those with CHB and LC, respectively. Multivariable analysis indicated that A1846T and C1913A/G mutations were independent factors for ACLF (OR = 2.86 and 5.93, respectively), suggesting an association between the mutations and development of ACLF. In addition, there were no significant differences in mutations at T1753V, A1762T, G1764A, G1896A, and G1899A which were found between either CHB and ACLF-CHB or LC and ACLF-LC patients， suggesting no associations of these mutations with ACLF development. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CHB or LC patients infected with HBV A1846T and C1913A/G mutants are more susceptible to develop ACLF.