Hepatitis D Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies in Parenteral Drug Abusers Who Are Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positive

Abstract

We studied unselected, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive parenteral drug abusers for antibody to hepatitis D virus (anti-HD) and antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The prevalences of anti-HD and antibody to HIV were 67% and 58%, respectively, and there was no association between positivity for these two markers. In a logistic regression model, anti-HD was associated with older age (P = .001), longer duration of drug abuse (P = .045), and the presence of liver disease (P = .002). Antibody to HIV was associated with a younger age (P = .003) and increased serum globulin levels (P less than .001). In patients infected with HIV, the severity of hepatic dysfunction remained correlated with anti-HD. In anti-HD-positive patients, most indices of hepatic dysfunction were similar whether or not antibody to HIV was present, but serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in patients with both anti-HD and antibody to HIV. (124 +/- 16 vs. 74 +/- 11, P less than .05).

Seroepidemiological Prevalence of Hepatitis Delta Virus in Eastern Saudi Arabia

“…So, vaccination against HBV will remain the only efficacious and safe prophylaxis against HDV, as it prevents the infection upon which the defective HDV thrives. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] We emphasize the importance of HBsAg immunization programs that have been implemented here since January 1991, certain that this will be reflected in the HDV control.…”

Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis D Virus Infection among Injecting Drug Users with and without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Taiwan

“…Most studies suggest that the majority of HDV infection is acquired through parenteral and sexual routes (16,22,28), which are also important routes for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In HIV-uninfected patients with chronic HBV infection, HDV coinfection may suppress HBV replication, with subsequent clearance of HBsAg (6,13,17), by exerting an inhibitory effect on the host DNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is involved in HBV transcription (12,20); however, HDV coinfection may lead to exacerbation and rapid progression of chronic liver disease, hepatic failure, and deaths in patients with HBV infection (22,28).…”

“…For patients with HIV infection, clinical studies of the impact of HDV infection on patients with HBV and HIV coinfection were limited and yielded inconsistent results before the introduction of HAART (2,11,21,24). Some investigators suggested that HIV coinfection might worsen chronic liver damage by HDV (11,22) and that patients with chronic HDV infection were more likely to develop cirrhosis than patients with HBV monoinfection (1), while others showed that the course of chronic HDV infection was not influenced by concomitant HIV infection (2,21,24). These discrepancies may be related to patient selection and the shorter survival of patients before the introduction of HAART.…”

Sero - Epidemiology of Hepatitis E and D Infections among HIV - Infected and HIV/HCV - Coinfected Patients in Jahrom, Southern Iran

“…In HIV -infected communities, chronic HEV infection has been characterized as an emerging cause of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis in patients without HCV or HBV co -infection (16,17). Chronic liver cirrhosis and inflammation were reported among HIV co -infected patients with HDV (18,19). In addition, HDV co -infected patients with HBV were shown progressive liver cirrhosis compared to HDV infected patients (20).…”