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Abstract Details
Risk Factors for Delta Hepatitis in a North American Cohort: Who Should Be Screened?
Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000954. Online ahead of print.
Ben L Da1, Farial Rahman, Walter C Lai, David E Kleiner, Theo Heller, Christopher Koh
Author information
11Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; 2Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
Introduction: The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends hepatitis D virus (HDV) screening in certain high-risk groups; however, the effectiveness is unknown.
Methods: A study of North American patients with hepatitis B (HBV) referred to the NIH was performed to identify risk factors associated with HDV infection. Active HDV was "confirmed" by serum HDV RNA or histologic HDV antigen staining.
Results: Six hundred fifty-two were studied, of which 91 were HDV "confirmed." Independent risk factors for HDV included: intravenous drug users, HBV-DNA <2,000 IU/mL, alanine aminotransferase >40 U/L, and HDV endemic country of origin.
Disussion: North American patients with HBV and significant risk factors should be screened for HDV.