Treatment outcome in patients of hepatitis B with hepatitis D: experience of 4 years at a tertiary care centre in Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine HBV suppression in patients with dual HBV and HDV infection after 48 weeks with 10.0 MIU of interferon-a 2b.


METHODS
Quasi experimental study.


METHODS
Civil Hospital, Karachi and Lyari General Hospital, Karachi, from July 2003 to June 2005.


METHODS
All HBsAg positive patients were screened for anti-HDV, all positives were included. Baseline investigations, liver chemistries and HBsAg; HBeAg; anti-HBcore IgM; HBV DNA quantitative PCR were done. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis were excluded. Patients were treated with Interferon-alpha 10.0 MIU sc t.i.w. for 48 weeks. HBeAg and quantitative HBV DNA was done at week 0, 24 and 48 while CBC and SGPT were done monthly. HBV suppression was defined as levels < 400 copies/ml.


RESULTS
Fifty-two patients were selected for intervention, including 34 males and 18 females. At the end of therapy after 48 weeks, HBV DNA suppression was achieved in 51.9% and HBeAg became undetectable in 53.8% of patients. Twenty-one patients with HBV suppression still had raised SGPT.


CONCLUSIONS
HDV should be screened in all patients eligible for HBV treatment.
Zuberi
Bader Faiyaz
BF
Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
Quraishy
Muhammad Saeed
MS
Afsar
Salahuddin
S
Akhtar
Naheed
N
Kumar
Ashok
A
Dodani
Sunil Kumar
SK
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins