Assessment of Patients with Hepatitis D

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the smallest known virus to infect humans. HDV, a defective ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, is also the most important cause of liver-related mortality in patients with hepatitis B. Fifteen-20 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with HDV. In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of HDV infection and to asses the data on clinical and laboratory findings, treatments, serologies and biopsy results in patients with HDV infection. Materials and Methods: The records of patients with HDV infection who attended the infectious diseases and clinical microbiology clinics at Atatrk University Medical Faculty Hospital betwe 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Antigen and antibody results were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Dia. Pro Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl, Milan, Italy). Determination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA values and HDV RNA (Qiagen c, Germany) was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Liver biopsies were performed and the specimens were assessed using Knodell's scoring system. Results: Two thousand five hundred forty hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients were included in the study. One hundred and three (4.05%) patients (35 female -34%-and 68 male66%-) aged between 19 and 70 years (median: 49 years) were HDV antibody (anti HDV)-positive. Cirrhosis developed in 10 (9.7%) patients. Sixty (58.3%) patients were anti HBe-positive, while 34 (33%) were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and anti-hepatitis B e (anti-HBe) negative. Conclusion: HDV should be investigated in patients with hepatitis B due to its association with the increased risk of progression to liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as mortality rates. Hepatitis D is still a significant problem in Turkey and especially in our region. Nationwide hepatitis B vaccination programs and frequent screening of blood specimens will prevent hepatitis D. NR - 30 PU - GALENOS YAYINCILIK PI - FINDIKZADE PA - ERKAN MOR, MOLLA GURANI CAD 21-1, FINDIKZADE, ISTANBUL 34093, TURKEY