Prevalence of delta antibodies among urban HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease patients in Egypt.
The prevalence of delta infection among urban Egyptians is reported for the first time. Sera of 44 HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease (CLD) patients and 48 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were screened for antibodies to hepatitis delta antigen (anti-HD). Anti-HD was found in 21 (47.7%) of the patients compared with 4 (8.3%) of the asymptomatic carriers. The difference was statistically significant at the 0.001 level. Anti-HD was present in 14 out of 24 (58.3%) subjects with histological diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis, 4 of 9 (44.9%) with cirrhosis, and 3 out of 11 (27.2%) with chronic persistent hepatitis. This study points to a high prevalence of hepatitis delta virus in Egypt.
el Zayadi
A
A
Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt.
Ponzetto
A
A
Selim
O
O
Forzani
B
B
Lavarini
C
C
Rizzetto
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014505:Urban Population
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens