Abstract

Method: We enrolled all 165 patients with chronic HDV at Gastroenterology section of medical unit IV, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, On presentation, all patients were positive for both Anti-HDV and HBsAg, who were treated for 48 weeks with PEG-alfa-2a.  Evaluation of HBV and HDV infection through Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done at 6-month, and 12-month intervals. All laboratory values were repeated on regular intervals to assess the efficacy and side effects of therapy.

Results: From total 165 patients, Eighteen patients lost to follow up, 20 patients stopped treatment due to side effects of Interferon and 20 patients were excluded from the study due to liver cirrhosis, rest of 107 patients, 76 (71%) were male while 31 (29%) were female with a mean age of 27.84±10.52 years. Baseline investigations showed: Hemoglobin, 13.12+2.04 mg/dL; platelets, 200.73±91.31 x10⁹/L; Alanine aminotransferase, 67.41±116.15 U/L; Aspartate aminotransferase, 44.18±50.77 U/L; Alkaline phosphatase, 218.20±125.76 U/L; total bilirubin, 0.82±0.92 g/dL; and direct bilirubin, 0.31±0.22 g/dL. On PCR, HDV DNA was confirmed in every collected sample, with a mean value of 10786066.28±31826055.19, while HBV DNA was detected in 44 (41%) patients.