Frequency and comparative analysis of hapatitis D in petients seeking treatment for hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To find the frequency of hepatitis 'D' in patients of hepatitis 'B' seeking treatment and to compare clinical and biochemical features in patients harboring HDV with those who are not. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Medical Unit-IV, Civil Hospital Karachi, Medical Unit-VI and Surgical Unit-VII, Lyari General Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi; from July 2003 to June 2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HBsAg positive patients seeking treatment were enrolled in the study. Anti-HDV was done in all. Patients were split into two groups according to their anti-HDV status into HDV positive and HDV negative groups. Liver biochemistries and viral profile for HCV, anti-HBc IgM and HBeAg were done and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients were selected. HDV was positive in 66 (26.8%) patients. No significant difference was observed in the frequency and stages of cirrhosis between the two groups while significant differences were observed in the mean SGPT (95% CI: -381.09 to -110.74; P = 0.001) and albumin levels (95% CI: 1.87 to 7.73; P = 0.007) and in the frequency of HBeAg (P = 0.001), anti-HBc IgM (P = 0.02) and HBV DNA (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: HDV infection was common in patients with HBV in this cohort of patients. All patients of HBV should be screened for HDV before treatment decision for the former is taken.