Prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection in various groups with HBVinfection in Tehran, Imam Khomeini Hospital (2005-2006)

Hepatitis B virus infection is an important cause of liver morbidity and mortality worldwide. HDV changes the natural course of HBV. The prevalence of HDV infection wasn’t determined in the various groups of HBV infection (carriers, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC) in Iran. We aimed to research the prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in various groups with HBV infection in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran (2005-2006). Serological markers of HBV and HDV infection [HBs Ag, Hbe Ag, Anti Hbe Ab, Anti HDVAb (IgM, IgG)] were determined by ELISA test in 206 patients with HBV infection who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital (2005-2006).These patients were categorized to asymptomatic carriers, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC according to history, physical examination and lab findings. HDV infection was detected in 12.6% (26/206) of HBV infected patients. It was detected in 1.6%(1/62) of asymptomatic carriers, 20% (1/5) of acute hepatitis, 5.6%(5/88) of chronic hepatitis, 37.2% (16/43) of cirrhosis and 37.5% (3/8) of HCC patients. HDV infection showed a five-fold increase in chronic hepatitis (P<0.05) and ~16 fold increase in cirrhosis (P< 0.001) compared to HDV infection in asymptomatic carriers. HDV infection was equally distributed between sexes. Mean ages of HDV carriers, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC were (28), (33), (39.521), (47.111.5), (58.69,2) year respectively. The prevalence of HDV infection was 12.6%. The higher prevalence of HDVinfection in more severe forms of hepatitis B virus infection suggests that HDV infection increases the severity of chronic hepatitis B. HDV infection remains a major cause of chronic liver disease in Tehran in spite of its decreasing prevalence in countries such as Italy.