Influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype on the clinical course of disease in patients coinfected with HBV and hepatitis delta virus.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype on the course of disease in patients coinfected with HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV).

METHODS

We evaluated HBV genotypes in 190 patients, 140 of whom had chronic HBV monoinfection and 50 of whom had chronic HBV-HDV coinfection. Real-time polymerase chain reactions for the amplification of HBV DNA and HDV RNA were developed, and we compared the patient groups with respect to HBV genotype, viral load, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin levels, and disease severity.

RESULTS

Coinfected patients had higher ALT and bilirubin levels as well as a higher prevalence of liver cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. ALT levels were higher among individuals coinfected with HDV and HBV genotype F than among individuals infected only with HBV genotype F. Among HDV-HBV-coinfected patients, HDV load was lower among those infected with HBV genotype A than among those infected with HBV genotype D or genotype F.

CONCLUSION

Liver inflammation and HDV load are influenced by HBV genotype in individuals coinfected with HBV and HDV.