Keywords
Hepatitis delta virus; Chronic hepatitis B virus; Co-infection; Surinfection; Morocco
Abstract
The infection of Viral Hepatitis D (HDV) is life-threatening due to the chronically infected hepatitis B virus carriers which lead to the sudden acute hepatitis or severe chronic active hepatitis. Thus, an active surveillance of these patients with HDV co-infection is an important step to reduce the risk of hepatitis clinical complications. At present, we aimed to update the Moroccan sero-prevalence for HDV in these individuals and determine the status of hepatitis in chronic HBV carriers.
Methods: A one year follow-up was performed for 280 chronic HBV carriers and all patients were youngadults and adults. The anti-HDV antibodies (Total IgG and IgM Abs), while HBeAg and anti-HBe antibodies were additionally assessed by DiaSorin. The HBV-DNA levels were measured by Cobas Ampliprep Cobas TaqMan 48: KIT CAPA-G/CTM HBV V2.0 72 TESTS CE-IVC. The HDV-RNA detection and/or viral load quantification were performed in France in Avicenne laboratory of virology, as it has been described by Lunel-Fabiani.
Results: Only 2 (0.8%) individuals among chronic HBV infected individuals had been in contact with hepatitis D virus and have anti-HDV antibodies and both were HDV-RNA negative while 278 (99.2%) had a negative serology anti-HDV antibodies. 98% of chronic HBV individuals were HBeAg-negative with very low DNA HBV levels and five patients had “isolated anti-HBc” profile carriers with low DNA HBV levels. Two patients with a positive HBeAg had elevated ALT with higher HBV DNA loads.
Conclusion: A low prevalence of HDV in Moroccan chronic HBV carriers was demonstrated by this study, while 35% of patients with negative HBeAg were established as inactive carriers.
Citation
Kandoussi N, Abi R, Kasouati J, Tagajdid R, Elkochri S, Elmchichi B, et al. HDV Coinfection Rates in Moroccan Chronic Hepatitis B Patients. SM J Hepat Res Treat. 2017; 3(1): 1013. https://dx.doi.org/10.36876/smjhrt.1013