title: Epidemiological and clinical features of hepatitis delta in HBsAg-positive patients by HIV status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of HBV-associated hepatitis has changed in recent years, especially after the introduction of anti-HBV vaccination, with a consequent decrease in the incidence of HDV-associated hepatitis. However, HDV remains of concern in non-vaccinated people and in immigrants. The aim of this retrospective survey has been to assess prevalence and clinical characteristics of HDV infection in Liguria, a region in Northern Italy, in both HIV-positive and negative patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the year 2010, 641 patients chronically infected with HBV entered an observational study of HBV infection conducted in eight tertiary care centres belonging to the 'Ligurian HBV Study Group'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 641 patients, 454 (70.8%) were evaluated for HDV serology and 26 (5.7%) were found positive. Among them, 16 were also HIV-positive and 10 were not. Of the 428 HDV-negative patients, only 313 were tested for HIV and 33 (10.5%) were positive. At the time point of study entry there was no age difference between HIV-positive or negative patients, but HIV-positive patients were 10 years younger than HIV-negative (mean age 34.25 ±6.16 versus 41.50 ±8.89 years; P=0.021) at the time point of their first visit in each centre and they were also more frequently intravenous drug users (P=0.009). Despite a similar rate of cirrhosis in the two groups, no HIV-positive patient received an HDV-active therapy (that is, interferon), versus 4 of 10 HIV-negative patients (P=0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDV infection is still a problem in patients not covered by HBV vaccination. Both HDV and HIV testing were frequently overlooked in our setting.
authors: Infectious Diseases Department, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy. nicolini.la@gmail.com.
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Nicolini
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Taramasso
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Schiavetti
authors: Edoardo G
authors: EG
authors: Giannini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Beltrame
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Feasi
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Cassola
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Grasso
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Bartolacci
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Sticchi
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Picciotto
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Viscoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens