title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis D virus and its risk factors in the west of Iran.
abstract: Despite the decreasing trend in hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection worldwide, the importance of this disease cannot be underestimated. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients positive for HBsAg with respect to HDV infection and related factors. Patients with chronic hepatitis B who presented at Hamedan Province Hepatitis Community Center in 2002-2007 were included. A questionnaire covering demographic variables and history of hepatic disease was completed for each patient. Necessary tests were performed and antibodies to HDV were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 81 HBsAg positive patients, 14 (17.3%) contained anti-HDV IgG. Only one of the patients with anti-HDV IgM was positive for HBsAg. Of the anti-HDV IgG positive patients, two (14.3%) were women. Among the women examined in this study, 24 (35.8%) were anti-HDV IgG negative (p = 0.21), and of these, six (42.8%) were HBeAg positive while 17 (25.4%) of the anti-HDV IgG negative women were positive for HBeAg (p = 0.16). The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B among anti-HDV IgG positive and negative patients was 28.6% and 39.2% respectively (p = 0.31). Because of the relatively high rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV co-infection in our study subjects, it is vital that healthcare providers and policy makers to recognize the risk factors associated with this HBV and HDV co-infection as well as the reasons for this increased anti-HDV serology in HBV carriers.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ahmaliver@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amir Houshang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mohammad Alizadeh
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.forename: Ali Shabahang Saber
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tehrani
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keramat
authors.forename: Moggan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamani
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aini
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalilian
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majlesi
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajilooi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G