title: HDV seroprevalence in HBsAg positive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out the frequency of HDV seroprevalence and the demographic characteristics or HBsAg-HDV positive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital, Medical Unit-III, Karachi, from March 2007 to April 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with positive HBsAg were included in the study. Those having co-infection with HCV or HIV, autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, Wilson's disease and haemochromatosis were excluded. After detailed history and physical examination all the patients underwent laboratory workup including complete blood count, liver function test, viral profile (HAV, HCV, HIV and anti-HDV) and prothrombin time. While in selected patients, HBc (core) antibodies, ultrasound abdomen, serum iron profile, ANA and liver biopsy were also carried out whenever needed to establish a clinical stage of liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 374 patients with 266 (71.1%) males and 108 (28.9%) females with overall mean age of 31.64 ± 8.66 years. Overall frequency of anti-HDV antibodies positivity was found in 28.1% (n = 105) patients. HDV seropositivity was slightly more prevalent in males as compared to females (28.57% vs. 26.57%). HDV seropositivity frequency was significantly higher in patients who presented with acute hepatitis/hepatic failure as compared to other clinical diagnoses (p = 0.027) and in those sub-sets of patients who had raised ALT levels (p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high frequency of HDV seropositivity in the studied population particularly in males with acute hepatitis or hepatic failure, having raised ALT levels. The emphasis should be on preventive measures taken by other countries to reduce the prevalence of these treatment challenging infections.
authors.affiliation: Medical Ward-III, Civil Hospital and DUHS, Karachi.
authors.forename: Amanullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.affiliation: Medical Ward-III, Civil Hospital and DUHS, Karachi.
authors.forename: Abdul Rabb
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bhutto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Nazish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.affiliation: Medical Ward-III, Civil Hospital and DUHS, Karachi.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahmood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase