[Prevalence of hepatitis D in a population of Northeast Mexico and its relationship with other viruses].

BACKGROUND

There are few reports in Mexico on the prevalence of infection by virus D.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to study the hepatitis D virus infection prevalence in patients entering to the University Hospital.

METHODS

Seventy three HBsAg positive patients sera were studied. There were 38 patients with acute hepatitis, 28 patients with chronic liver disease and 7 were asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. Serological markers for hepatitis viruses B, D and C were detected by means of ELISA test (Abbott).

RESULTS

Anti-HDV was detected in 3 cases (4%). The first two cases were men with acute hepatitis B. Both had a coinfection by viruses B and D, however IgM anticore could not be demonstrated in the first case, this patient developed hepatic cirrhosis within 13 months, in addition he had a concurrent infection by hepatitis C virus with a positive second generation ELISA antibody. The second case recovered from the acute hepatitis. The third case was a female nurse with acute hepatitis and a coinfection by viruses B and D who recovered from the acute attack. Antibody to hepatitis C was present in 3 out of 22 patients with chronic liver disease (13.6%), one of them having an hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results coincide with the previously reported low incidence of hepatitis D and represent the first report in Mexico of concurrent infections by viruses B-C and B-D-C.