[Short communication: evaluation of the correlation between hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA positivity and HDV...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum hepatitis D -delta- virus (HDV) RNA detection and anti-HDV IgG and IgM antibodies, in the serodiagnosis of delta hepatitis. A total of 153 HBsAg positive sera were screened for the presence of anti-HBc IgM, anti-HDV IgG and anti-HDV IgM by commercial enzyme immunoassays and HDV-RNA by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 153 sera, 86 (56.2%) were found positive for HDV antibodies. Although isolated anti-HDV IgG was present in 35 and isolated anti-HDV IgM was present in 11 patients, IgG and IgM were present concurrently in 40 additional patients. HDV-RNA was detected in 21.5% (33/153) of the patients. Four of the 33 HDV-RNA positive patients were positive only for anti-HDV IgG, 8 were positive only for anti-HDV IgM, and 19 were positive for both anti-HDV IgG and IgM antibodies. Twenty seven of 51 (53%) anti-HDV IgM positive patients were also found positive for HDV-RNA, while 27 of 33 (82%) HDV-RNA positive patients exhibited anti-HDV IgM positivity. Increased serum ALT levels were detected approximately in 85% (28/33) of viremic patients. As all of the HDV-RNA positive patients were found negative for anti-HBc IgM, superinfection with delta virus were considered. In conclusion, PCR is a sensitive and useful method for the detection of viremic patients as well as for the monitorization of antiviral therapy, anti-HDV IgM positivity together with increased ALT levels appear to be good markers for the prediction of hepatitis delta viremia, especially in the countries with limited economical sources as Turkey.