Short Communication: Hepatitis B Virus Harboring Nucleotide Deletions in the Basal Core Promoter in HBe-Positive HIV-Coinfected Patients Under Lamivudine Therapy.

The presence of HBV genomes with deletions at the basal core promoter (BCP) is associated with more aggressive liver disease. This 3-year longitudinal analysis of two HIV-HBV-coinfected patients allowed identification of three deletions with dissimilar abundance and permanence into the HBV quasispecies composition. These deletions may contribute to HBV pathogenesis in HIV-coinfected individuals.