Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus patients are usually treated in Syria with alpha interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues. Genotypic viral factors causing inadequate response or relapse following initial response are not routinely investigated. This study aimed to explore and discuss local therapeutic...

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Main Authors: Wafa Habbal, Fawza Monem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2012-10-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2596
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author Wafa Habbal
Fawza Monem
author_facet Wafa Habbal
Fawza Monem
author_sort Wafa Habbal
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Hepatitis B virus patients are usually treated in Syria with alpha interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues. Genotypic viral factors causing inadequate response or relapse following initial response are not routinely investigated. This study aimed to explore and discuss local therapeutic decisions from a molecular perspective. Methodology: Fifty patients with hepatitis B from Syria were tested for HBV genotyping and drug-resistance mutations by DNA sequencing. Results: All patients had genotype D, which is characterized by relatively low response to interferon-based therapy. Drug-resistant viral mutant variants were detected in one fifth of the enrolled patients, and distributed similarly in both nucleos(t)ide analogues-naïve and -treated patients. However, nucleos(t)ide analogues-based therapy was associated with the existence of more mutations and hence increased resistance. Conclusions: Investigating HBV genotypes and drug-resistance mutations to support treatment decisions is critically needed for efficient therapy and patients’ survival.
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spelling doaj-art-8c582674257243e598355d79c856e1cd2025-08-20T02:57:14ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802012-10-0161010.3855/jidc.2596Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoringWafa Habbal0Fawza Monem1Al-Assad Hospital, Damascus University, Damascus, SyriaAl-Assad Hospital, Damascus University, Damascus, SyriaIntroduction: Hepatitis B virus patients are usually treated in Syria with alpha interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues. Genotypic viral factors causing inadequate response or relapse following initial response are not routinely investigated. This study aimed to explore and discuss local therapeutic decisions from a molecular perspective. Methodology: Fifty patients with hepatitis B from Syria were tested for HBV genotyping and drug-resistance mutations by DNA sequencing. Results: All patients had genotype D, which is characterized by relatively low response to interferon-based therapy. Drug-resistant viral mutant variants were detected in one fifth of the enrolled patients, and distributed similarly in both nucleos(t)ide analogues-naïve and -treated patients. However, nucleos(t)ide analogues-based therapy was associated with the existence of more mutations and hence increased resistance. Conclusions: Investigating HBV genotypes and drug-resistance mutations to support treatment decisions is critically needed for efficient therapy and patients’ survival. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2596hepatitis B virusSyriatherapeutic decisionsviral genotypemutant variantsdrug resistance
spellingShingle Wafa Habbal
Fawza Monem
Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
hepatitis B virus
Syria
therapeutic decisions
viral genotype
mutant variants
drug resistance
title Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
title_full Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
title_fullStr Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
title_full_unstemmed Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
title_short Rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis B infection in Syria: insights into molecular monitoring
title_sort rethinking therapeutic decisions for hepatitis b infection in syria insights into molecular monitoring
topic hepatitis B virus
Syria
therapeutic decisions
viral genotype
mutant variants
drug resistance
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/2596
work_keys_str_mv AT wafahabbal rethinkingtherapeuticdecisionsforhepatitisbinfectioninsyriainsightsintomolecularmonitoring
AT fawzamonem rethinkingtherapeuticdecisionsforhepatitisbinfectioninsyriainsightsintomolecularmonitoring