title: Hepatitis D virus superinfection remains a rare occurrence in non-drug abusers in Hong Kong.
abstract: Recent studies from Taiwan reported an increased prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) superinfection as well as a spread of HDV infection to non-drug abusers. We examined the current prevalence of HDV superinfection in Hong Kong by testing sera from a large cohort of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, collected between January 1988 and December 1990, for IgG antibody to HDV (anti-HDV). Anti-HDV was detected in 13 (93%) of 14 parenteral drug abusers who had HBV-related chronic liver disease. However, anti-HDV was detected in only one (0.15%) of 664 non-drug abusers who had chronic HBV infection and none of 31% patients with acute hepatitis B. We concluded that HDV superinfection remains a rare occurrence in non-drug abusers in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sporton
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G