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. 2018 Sep;30(9):1063-1065.
doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001187.

Short article: Hepatitis delta in patients with resolved hepatitis B virus infection

Antonio Aguilera  1 , Javier Rodríguez-Calviño  1 , Carmen de Mendoza  2 , Vincent Soriano  3   4
Affiliations

Short article: Hepatitis delta in patients with resolved hepatitis B virus infection

Antonio Aguilera et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) causes the most aggressive form of chronic viral hepatitis. As HDV replication requires hepatitis B virus (HBV), HDV screening is limited to HBsAg+ carriers. To date, individuals with HDV-antibodies and markers of resolved hepatitis B are considered cured. However, a subset shows elevated liver enzymes and hepatic fibrosis. Could they represent HBsAg-seronegative occult HDV infections?

Methods: We tested for HDV-antibodies 406 individuals with markers of past HBV exposure.

Results: Overall, 20 (4.9%) were reactive for HDV-antibodies. All were negative for serum HDV-RNA, including four with elevated liver enzymes.

Conclusion: These results support the current policy of screening for hepatitis delta only in HBsAg+ individuals.

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Comment in

  • Delta hepatitis in resolved hepatitis B.
    Ponzetto A, Ciancio A, Figura N. Ponzetto A, et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Dec;30(12):1528. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001253. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018. PMID: 30395014 No abstract available.

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