OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical and pathological features between children with various genotypes of hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN).

METHODSForty-one children with HBV-GN concurrently undergoing liver and renal biopsy were randomly selected. Serum specimens were collected for genotyping and hepatitis B virus (HBV) cccDNA assay. The clinical, pathological, and HBV cccDNA differences between HBV-GN children of various genotypes were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 41 HBV-GN children, 29 (71%) were genotype C, 10 (24%) were genotype B, and 2 (5%) were genotype B/C. The incidence rates of hematuria, albuminuria, complement 3 decrease, alanine transaminase increase, and renal insufficiency in the genotype C group were significantly higher than those in the genotype B group (P<0.05). Similarly, the HBV cccDNA positive rate was significantly higher in the genotype C group than that in the genotype B group. No difference was observed in the distribution of pathological types of renal tissues betwee the two geonotype groups. There were no significant differences in the degrees of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSMainly genotypes C and B occur in children with HBV-GN and the former genotype is dominant. The clinical symptoms of patients with genotype C are more serious than those with genotype B. However, there is no difference in the pathological features between them.