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Epidemiology and clinical pattern of hepatitis delta virus infection in Pakistan
Author(s) -
MUMTAZ KHALID,
HAMID SAEED S,
ADIL SALMAN,
AFAQ ASIM,
ISLAM M,
ABID SHAHAB,
SHAH HASNAIN A,
JAFRI WASIM
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.03857.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis d , liver disease , hepatitis b virus , chronic liver disease , hepatitis b , hepatitis , delta , population , gastroenterology , viral disease , virology , immunology , virus , cirrhosis , hbsag , environmental health , engineering , aerospace engineering
Background and Aims: The global epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is changing. This study was performed to determine the epidemiology and clinical impact of hepatitis delta in Pakistan. Methods: Countrywide data was collected from 1994 to 2001. A total of 8721 patients were tested for hepatitis delta antibody. A subset of 97 hepatitis delta antibody reactive inpatients with chronic liver disease were compared to 97 patients admitted with liver disease due to hepatitis B alone. Results: Of the 8721 patients tested, 1444 (16.6%) were reactive for hepatitis delta antibody. Most were males (87.4%, P < 0.001) and younger (mean age 31 years, P < 0.001) compared to HDV non‐reactive patients. Prevalence of delta infection was highest in the rural (range 25–60%) compared to the urban population (range 6.5–11%). Analysis of the inpatient data showed that delta infected patients had significantly less severe clinical liver disease and a trend towards lesser development of hepatocellular carcinoma compared to delta negative patients. Conclusions: (i) HDV infection is present in 16.6% of hepatitis B infected patients in Pakistan, most commonly in younger males living in rural areas; and (ii) delta virus infected patients have less severe clinical liver disease compared to delta negative, hepatitis B patients.