BCP and PC mutations and forms of chronic HBV infection - Among the 129 patients in whom the HBV PC region was analysed, a high frequency of HBV strains with G1896A mutation (53/129, 41%) was detected, alone or in G1896A/G1899A double mutation, particularly in the subgroup with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis (39/85, 45.9%) (p = 0.03). This evidence concerns the gene OPN1SW and chronic hepatitis.