title: Determination of hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-RNA in asymptomatic cases of HDV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) viremia in asymptomatic cases of HDV infection and the clinical significance of the HDV viremia, we conducted a cross-sectional, community-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 2207 examinees, 210 (9.5%) were found to be positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Antibody to HDV was detected in 47 (22.4%) of the 210 examinees, and 43 of the 47 were further evaluated for serum HDV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one (48.8%) of the 43 had detectable levels of HDV-RNA in serum, and 22 (51.2%) were negative for serum HDV-RNA. The majority (61.9%) of the HDV-RNA-positive HBsAg carriers had high levels of serum ALT. In contrast, the frequency of an abnormally high level of serum ALT was only 9.1% in the HBsAg carriers positive for HDV antibody but negative for HDV-RNA, and the frequency did not differ from that seen in the HBsAg-negative individuals. The semiquantified HDV-RNA levels did not correlate with the serum ALT levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seropositivity of HDV-RNA was strongly associated with liver cell damage, even in asymptomatic cases. The absence of a detectable level of serum HDV-RNA might be related to previous HDV infection.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukus, Okinawa Prefectural Miyako Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakugawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakasone
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adaniya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizushima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayoshi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zukeran
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yakabi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D014766:Viremia / Q000382:microbiology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase