Frequency and comparative analysis of hapatitis D in petients seeking treatment for hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
To find the frequency of hepatitis 'D' in patients of hepatitis 'B' seeking treatment and to compare clinical and biochemical features in patients harboring HDV with those who are not.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.


PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Medical Unit-IV, Civil Hospital Karachi, Medical Unit-VI and Surgical Unit-VII, Lyari General Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi; from July 2003 to June 2005.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
HBsAg positive patients seeking treatment were enrolled in the study. Anti-HDV was done in all. Patients were split into two groups according to their anti-HDV status into HDV positive and HDV negative groups. Liver biochemistries and viral profile for HCV, anti-HBc IgM and HBeAg were done and compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
A total of 246 patients were selected. HDV was positive in 66 (26.8%) patients. No significant difference was observed in the frequency and stages of cirrhosis between the two groups while significant differences were observed in the mean SGPT (95% CI: -381.09 to -110.74; P = 0.001) and albumin levels (95% CI: 1.87 to 7.73; P = 0.007) and in the frequency of HBeAg (P = 0.001), anti-HBc IgM (P = 0.02) and HBV DNA (P<0.001).


CONCLUSION
HDV infection was common in patients with HBV in this cohort of patients. All patients of HBV should be screened for HDV before treatment decision for the former is taken.