Lower Intrafamilial Transmission Rate of Hepatitis B in Patients With Hepatitis D Coinfection: A Data-Mining Approach

Abstract

BackgroundThe presence of an infected family member significantly increases the risk of HBV transmission, but many socio-demographic and viral characteristics of family members affect the transmission rate.ObjectivesIn this study, we have used data mining techniques to investigate the impact of different variables in intrafamilial transmission of HBV infection.Patients and Methodsdemographic information, viral markers, and medical history of 330 patients with chronic hepatitis B and their offspring attending a referral center in Tehran were collected. Data-mining techniques were administered to detect patterns.ResultsThe overall transmission rate was 15.7% (5.4% and 27.3% for male and female index cases respectively). In female patients, HBe Ag positively affected the transmission rate (49% vs. 23.4%). There was a dominant change in transmission rate of female patients with negative results for Hbe Ag with HDV coinfection, where the transmission rate changed from 25% in patients with negative results for HDV Ab to 5% in those with positive results. In Hbe Ag negative male index cases, the transmission rate was 1.3% in cases with positive results for HDV Ab compared to 7% in those with negative findings. The overall transmission rate was statistically different between patients with positive and negative results for HDV Ab (P = 0.016).ConclusionsThere is a minor but consistent pattern change in the presence of HDV infection which reduces familial transmission of HBV, especially in female patients with negative results for HBe Ag.

Evolutionary analysis of HBV “S” antigen genetic diversity in Iranian blood donors: A nationwide study

“…Considering the mean age of the study subjects (36 years), most of the patients were born before the national HBV vaccination program for neonates. This vaccination program started in 1993 [Zidan et al, ] and has significantly changed the HBV route of transmission from vertical to horizontal in Iran [Pournik et al, ]. Thus, it is hypothesized that most of the study subjects were infected with HBV through perinatal (mother‐to‐child) transmission.…”

The clinical implications of hepatitis B virus genotypes and HBeAg in pediatrics

“…In a study carried out in Iran , where a data‐mining approach was used, the overall transmission rate was 15.7% (5.4% and 27.3% for male and female index cases, respectively). The frequency of transmission was more than double for HBeAg‐positive females (49%) compared to HBeAg‐negative females (23.4%).…”

“…There was a lower intrafamilial transmission rate of HBV in patients with hepatitis D virus (HDV) co‐infection, being statistically significant between patients positive and negative for anti‐HDV antibody. This was most pronounced for HBeAg‐negative female index cases, where the frequency of transmission was only 5% in those who were anti‐HDV‐positive compared to 25% in anti‐HDV‐negative females . A number of factors can influence the interaction of HBV and HDV including HBV genotype.…”

Hepatitis delta virus infection prevalence, diagnosis and treatment in the Middle East: A scoping review

“…A study from Sistan and Baluchistan ( n = 135) found HDV antibodies in 5.9% of HBV‐positive samples 22 . Three studies in Tehran found an HDV antibody prevalence of 7.7% ( n = 509), 30 10.1% ( n = 237) 31 and 10.5% ( n = 390) 32 among HBV‐positive individuals. Studies in other regions found considerably higher rates, with 17.0% and 21.8% of HBV‐positive individuals testing positive for anti‐HDV in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan ( n = 144), 33 and Razavi Khorasan province ( n = 87), 34 respectively.…”