Fatal fulminant primary hepatitis B virus infections with G1896A precore viral mutants in southeastern France

SummaryFulminant hepatitis has been shown to occur in about 1% of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, and its mortality rate is nearly 70%. Specific HBV genotypic features have been pointed out in fulminant acute hepatitis B worldwide, but these associations remain controversial. We describe all four primary HBV infections diagnosed in 2008 in our institution in Marseille, southeastern France, including two fatal cases. HBV genotypes were D or E. Precore G1896A HBV mutants were detected in both fatal fulminant primary HBV infections. Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were negative in two and three cases, respectively, despite HBV DNA detection. Primary HBV infection remains a cause of death in France. The impact of the precore G1896A mutation on the severity of AHB deserves to be assessed in larger studies in this country.