Hepatitis δ virus infection in India

Serological markers of hepatitis δ virus (HDV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were studied in 87 HBsAg positive patients, comprised of 18 patients with uncomplicated acute viral hepatitis (AVH), 34 patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), 18 patients with subacute hepatic failure (SAHF) and 17 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). The prevalence of HDV infection was found to be 27.8%, 20.6%, 16.7% and 11.8%, respectively in these four groups. Co-infection of HDV and HBV was common amongst patients with AVH but superinfection by HDV in chronic HBV carriers was the predominant form of infection in patients with FHF, SAHF and CAH. HDV superinfection in these groups did not significantly alter the common tests of liver function or the DNA-polymerase positivity