[Prevalence of HBV-DNA among anti-HD positive patients]


Bas C, Bartolomé J, Mora I., La Banda F, Porres JC, Hernández Guío C, Carreño V.

In order to determine the possible coexistence of HBV and HDV replication, the presence of HBV-DNA in sera from anti-HD positive patients was studied.

We included a total of 92 HBV chronic hepatitis patients (HBsAg +). Out of them 52 were anti-HD positive (19 HBeAg +, 33 anti-HBe +) and 40 anti-HD negative (HBeAg +, HBV.DNA +). HBV serum markers and anti-HD were determined by RIA (Abbott). HDAg in liver biopsy was detected by indirect immunoperoxidas technique. HBV-DNA was tested by doo-blot hybridization using HBV-DNA cpm was measured by liquid scintillation of the nitrocellulose filter spots.

A total of 13 out of 52 (25%) anti-HD positive patients were HBV-DNA and HBeAg positive.

HBV-DNA was not detected in any of the 33 anti-HBe positive patients.

Delta antigen in the liver resulted positive in 8/13 (61.5%) HBeAg and anti-HD positive patients.

The transaminase levels resulted significantly higher among anti-HB+, HBV-DNA+ patients (388+/-207) than in anti-HD+ HBV-DNA (244+/-40) 8p<0.025) and than in anti-HD-, HBV-DNA+ patients (141+/-41) (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The 36.5% of our anti-HD positive patients resulted HBeAg positive and 68% of them have circulating HBV-DNA, this suggests that replication by both viruses can coexist. Furthermore, when both viruses are replicating in the same patient, the liver cell necrosis seems to increase.