INFLUENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS AND HUMAN- IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION IN THE NATURAL-HISTORY OF CHRONIC DELTA-HEPATITIS

Objectives: To analize the prevalence and clinical significance of HCV an HIV infections among a group of patients with chronic delta hepati tis. Methods: We have studied the clinical and the histological activi ty and the serological profile (the HBV DNA was analyzed by dot blot a nd PCR and the HDV RNA by dot blot) in 46 patients with chronic delta hepatitis. These results were correlated with HCV infection (assessed by ELISA-2, RIBA-2 and RT-PCR) and HIV infection (ELISA and immunoblot ). Results: HBV DNA and HDV RNA was detected by dot in 28.2% and 71.4% of patients respectively, and by PCR, 89.1% of patients had HBV DNA i n their serum. Twenty two of 46 patients with chronic delta hepatitis were anti-HCV positives (with HCV RNA detectable in sera by RT-PCR in 19 cases). Anti-HIV positivity was detected in 19 of 46 patients. The mean aminotransferase level, histological activity and serological pro file was similar in the anti-HCV positive and negative patients. Likew ise, clinical and histological activity and serological profile was si milar in the anti-HIV positive and negative patients. Conclusions: Con comitant infection with HCV or HIV does not seem to significantly modi fy the clinical course of chronic delta hepatitis. In addition, no sig nificant serological difference has been noted in patients with chroni c delta hepatitis with anti-HIV or anti-HCV antibodies.