Anti-HDV Seroprevalence Among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Diyarbakır

Objectives: This study identifies the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) antibodies (anti-HDV) seroprevalence in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in a region highly endemic for HDV. Materials and Methods: A total of 306 patients with CHB infection, who were followed up regularly between January 2016 and December 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, hematological parameters, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasonography, hepatitis serologies, and liver biopsy results of the patients were analyzed through patient follow-up forms. Results: Anti-HDV was positive in 43 (14.1%) of 306 patients, 129 (42.1%) of whom were female and had a mean age of 41.5±13.4 years. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamil transferase levels of delta hepatitis (DH) patients were significantly higher than those of CHB patients (p=0.019, p<0.001; p=0.027; p=0.001, respectively), whereas albumin, white blood cell, and platelet levels were significantly lower (p<0.001; p=0.001; p<0.001, respectively). 55.8% of patients with DH were with the diagnosed with cirrhosis. Conclusion: Anti-HDV was positive in 14.1% of patients diagnosed with CHB in the Diyarbakır region. The progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is faster in DH; therefore, more efforts should be made to identify and treat this patient group.