HEPATITIS DELTA

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS DELTA IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to prevalence of hepatitis delta in
patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Period: One
year starting from February 2016 to January 2017. Setting: Patients OPD and admitted to Dow
university hospital and Zubaida Medical Center Karachi. Methods: Hepatitis B surface antigen
(HbsAg) were analyzed for the presence or absence of Hepatitis D antibody (Anti HDV). 368
patients with chronic hepatitis B were included to be part of this study. Patient’s age, duration of
illness and previous treatments were recorded. HBV and HDV virus presence was confirmed by
using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Out of 368 patients with chronic HBV infection,
291 (79.07%) were males and 77 (20.92%) were females. The male to female ratio was 3.7:1.
Patients were aged between 35-60 years. 251 (68.2%) were positive for anti HDV. 211 of them
were males (84%) and 40 were females (15.9%). Conclusion: We have concluded that HDV
infection is associated with higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients. Effective
and early treatment of HDV can reduce the frequency of patients advancing to decompensated
chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.