Objective    To study the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Chongqing city and its clinical influences.      Methods    The genotype of HBV was detected by SSP-PCR while the HBV DNA by FQ-PCR and HBeAg by ELISA.      Results    Among 360 HBV DNA positive patients who have lived in Chongqing

the prevalence of HBV/B and C was 45.6% and 53.9%

respectively. The rate of genotype C increased with the progression of chronic liver disease from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (42.4%)

liver cirrhosis (LC) (67.4%) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (74.0%)

with significant differences among these groups (χ

2

=23.368

P

<

0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that HBV genotype is an independent risk factor for HBV-related HCC (

OR

=3.2

P

=0.01). No significant difference was found in the positive rate of HBeAg or the serum level of HBV DNA among the patients of genotype B and C (

P

>0.05)

even though the positive rate of HBeAg was slightly higher in the patients of genotype B (40.9%) than that of genotype C (36.1%).     Conclusion    Genotype C and B are the dominant genotypes for Chongqing population. The damage to liver induced by genotype C is more severe than that by genotype B. HBV genotype plays a role in the progression of serious HBV-related liver disease.