Delta Hepatitis Positivity in Hepatitis B Virus Infected Patients; Coinfection or Superinfection?

• Main Authors: Özlem Aydemir, Hüseyin Agah Terzi, Engin Karakeçe, Mehmet Köroğlu, Mustafa Altındiş
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi 2019-06-01
• Series: Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi
• Subjects: Hepatitis delta virus; Delta hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Coinfection; Superinfection; Defective virus
• Online Access: http://www.floradergisi.org/getFileContent.aspx?op=REDPDF&file_name=2019-24-02-131-135.pdf

Introduction: Hepatitis D virus, a defective virus that requires active hepatitis B virus replication, can only infect people with active HBV infection. The clinical picture of patients super-infected with HDV proceeds rapidly and progressively. Eventually, cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma may occur. In this study, it was aimed to investigate both HDV seroprevalence and coinfection/ superinfection frequency in HDV infected patients in our region. Materials and Methods: A total of 740 patients (2015-2018) with HBsAg positivity were included in the study. The results of HDV Ab, HDV Ag, anti-HBe, HBe Ag, anti-HBc IgM and IgG, ALT and AST were examined in these patients. Results: 60% of the patients were males and 40% were females. HDV Ab positivity was detected in 10 (1.36%) of the 740 HBsAg positive patients. HDV Ag positivity was detected in four patients, whereas HDV Ag and Ab positivity was detected in only one patient. ALT and AST elevations were found in 3 of the patients (30%) with Delta antibody positivity. Anti-HBc IgG was positive in all patients with Delta ab positivity and there was no antiHBcIgM positivity. Conclusion: In this study, HDV prevalence detected in our region was 1.36%, which is below the general average of Turkey. There is superinfection in the whole of what we identify as HDV Ab positive. In order to combat HDV infection, in addition to immunizing those who have not had Hepatitis B infection and the nonimmune community, transmission routes of HBV must be enlightened and the epidemiology of the disease must be well known. Screening of HBV-infected individuals for HDV will help identify infected persons and contribute to protection, control and treatment programs.