OBJECTIVE[corrected] To assess the specificity and applicability of direct PCR sequencing in the detection of point mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated with drug resistance.

METHODSSerum samples were obtained from 120 patients with hepatitis B treated with nucleoside analogus for at least 2 years to detect the point mutations in HBV genome in association with drug resistance using nested PCR and direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSForty out of the 120 patients were found to have one or two point mutations associated with drug resistance, including 17 with L180M and M204V/I mutations (42.5%), 10 with M204V/I mutation (25%), 8 with N236T mutation (20%), 3 with L180M mutation (7.5%), and 1 with both A181V/T and N236T mutations (2.5%), and 1 with A181V/T mutation(2.5%).

CONCLUSIONDNA sequencing is a good method to detect all known point mutations associated with HBV drug resistance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Point Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Young Adult