Coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis Delta virus in Belgiumy: a multicenter BASL Study. Prospective epidemiolog and comparison with HBV mono-infection

Epidemiological data on hepatitis delta virus
(HDV) infection in Belgium are lacking. A multicenter
questionnaire-based registry on HDV infection
was collated between March 1, 2008 and
February 28, 2009. It consisted of patients coinfected
with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV.
The data samples were compared to those of a
concurrent registry on HBV infection. Prospective
data of patients with HBV–HDV coinfection
were collected. Active HBV replication is defined
as HBeAg positivity or HBV DNA > 2,000 IU/ml.
Forty-four patients from 15 centers were registered.
A comparison of 29 patients infected with
HDV (registered in the concurrent HBV registry)
was made against 785 HBV mono-infected patients.
The seroprevalence of patients coinfected
with HBV and HDV in Belgium is reported to be
3.7% (29/785), consisting solely of the HBV–HDV
coinfected patients in the HBV registry. This rises
to 5.5% (44/800) if all patients infected with HDV
from the two registries combined are included.
The patients coinfected with HBV and HDV had
higher (P < 0.05) ALT values and more advanced
liver disease (Metavir score F2), but had less
active HBV replication and lower HBV DNA titers
when compared with the patients infected only
with HBV. Additionally, the majority of HBV–
HDV coinfected patient was male, and 13.6% (6/
44) of the patients that were coinfected HBV and
HDV were also infected with HCV. In conclusion,
this study provided much needed epidemiological
data on the current state of HDV infection
in Belgium.