Comparison of the histological and serological parameters of patients with hepatitis delta virus in active and inactive hepatitis B virus carriers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the histological and serological parameters of patients with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) in active HBV versus inactive HBV carriers.


METHODS
An observational study.


METHODS
Medical Unit IV at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, Sindh, from June 2008 to September 2011.


METHODS
This study included 49 consecutive inactive HBV carriers who were HBsAg-positive, HBV DNA-negative, anti-D antibody-positive, and HDV RNA-positive, as well as 277 patients with active HBV who were HBsAg-positive, anti- HDV antibody-positive, HDV RNA-positive, and demonstrated > 20,000 IU/mL HBV DNA and > 2 (ULN) serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Liver biopsies were obtained and the staging of fibrosis was performed according to the METAVIR scoring system. Continuous variables such as age, SGPT, platelet count, and the HBV DNA level were computed as the mean ± standard deviation. Categorical variables such as gender and stage of fibrosis are expressed as percentages. All data were processed using SPSS version 16.


RESULTS
This study included 49 patients in an inactive HBV group. Fibrosis stage 0 was observed in 37 (75.5%) patients and 12 (24.5%) were stage 1. Among the 277 patients with active disease, fibrosis stage 0 was present in 7 (2.5%) patients, stage 1 in 31 (11.2%) patients, stage 2 in 172 (62.1%) patients, stage 3 in 44 (15.9%) patients and stage 4 in 23 (8.3%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
HDV in active HBV carriers is severe on its initial presentation and requires prompt treatment whereas in inactive HBV carriers demonstrates an indolent course.
Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh.
Samiullah
S
Shaikh
Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh.
Devrajani Bikha
DB
Ram
Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh.
Shaikh
S
Tanveer
Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh.
Asra
A
Talpur
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase