Hepatitis D Virus Seroprevalence Determined During Periods Of Hepatitis B Virus Infections In Eastern Turkey

A serological marker of Hepatitis D virus (HDV), anti-HDV JgG was investigated in the sera of 955 patients with Hepatititis B virus (HBV), who were admitted to Van Yuzuncu Yil University Medical School Hospital and Van Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital in Van between January 2004 and December 2005. In this prospective study, markers of HBV serology were investigated in Axsym System device via macro-ELISA method, but anti-HDV JgG was investigated via HDV JgG Qua/it kits using micro-ELISA method. HBV DNA tests were conducted using Bayer Versant HBV DNA3.0 Assay reactives and Quantiplex TM System b-DNAAnalyzer device. A total of, 955 HBV-infected patients between 6 and 97 years of age were included into the study. Of the patients, 35.3% had acute HBV infections, 54.6% had chronic HBV-infections and 10.2% were inactive HBsAg carriers. Of 955 HBV-infected patients, 5.8% were anti-HDV lgG positive. Of HDV seropositive patients, 43.6% had acute HBV infections, 52.7% had chronic HBV infections, and 3.6% were inactive HBsAg carriers. HDV seroprevalence rate found in the study was determined to be lower than that among general population in Turkey. Since HBV/eads to HDV in only HBV-infected individuals,. HDV should be investigated in HBV-infected patients.