title: [Short communication: evaluation of the correlation between hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA positivity and HDV antibodies].
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum hepatitis D -delta- virus (HDV) RNA detection and anti-HDV IgG and IgM antibodies, in the serodiagnosis of delta hepatitis. A total of 153 HBsAg positive sera were screened for the presence of anti-HBc IgM, anti-HDV IgG and anti-HDV IgM by commercial enzyme immunoassays and HDV-RNA by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 153 sera, 86 (56.2%) were found positive for HDV antibodies. Although isolated anti-HDV IgG was present in 35 and isolated anti-HDV IgM was present in 11 patients, IgG and IgM were present concurrently in 40 additional patients. HDV-RNA was detected in 21.5% (33/153) of the patients. Four of the 33 HDV-RNA positive patients were positive only for anti-HDV IgG, 8 were positive only for anti-HDV IgM, and 19 were positive for both anti-HDV IgG and IgM antibodies. Twenty seven of 51 (53%) anti-HDV IgM positive patients were also found positive for HDV-RNA, while 27 of 33 (82%) HDV-RNA positive patients exhibited anti-HDV IgM positivity. Increased serum ALT levels were detected approximately in 85% (28/33) of viremic patients. As all of the HDV-RNA positive patients were found negative for anti-HBc IgM, superinfection with delta virus were considered. In conclusion, PCR is a sensitive and useful method for the detection of viremic patients as well as for the monitorization of antiviral therapy, anti-HDV IgM positivity together with increased ALT levels appear to be good markers for the prediction of hepatitis delta viremia, especially in the countries with limited economical sources as Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Dicle Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Diyarbakir.
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozekinci
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atmaca
authors.forename: Nezahat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akpolat
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Temiz
authors.forename: Eralp
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arikan
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase