BACKGROUND/AIMS: Epidemiology, clinical features and long term-course of chronic hepatitis D were addressed in a non-endemic Central European area. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with chronic hepatitis D were identified among 1307 HBsAg carriers at the university hospital Düsseldorf during two decades (1989 - 2008) and followed for a mean of 7 +/- 6 years. Forty-one of these were treated with IFN-alfa for at least six months. RESULTS: Hepatitis D prevalence increased from 4.1 to 6.2 % among HBsAg carriers during the two decades (p < 0.06). Patients originating from the former Soviet Union (32.1 vs. 46.2 %) and Africa (0 vs. 17.9 %) became more frequent whereas the prevalence of patients from Southern Europe declined (46.5 vs.17.9 % p < 0.03). The time span between the diagnosis of hepatitis B and D was 4.8 +/- 7 years (p < 0.0001). A sustained virological response to interferon-alfa was achieved in 19.5 % of the patients. The yearly incidence rates for death, HCC and complications were 3.2 %, 2.7 % and 8 % among patients with liver cirrhosis. Estimated survival and complication-free survival during 12 years were 72 % and 45 % in cirrhotic compared to 100 % in non-cirrhotic patients (p < 0.008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Hepatitis D in western Germany appears to be on the increase and has a migration background that should be considered in clinical practice. Clinical outcome and response to IFN are as poor as in endemic regions, indicating the need to improve early diagnosis. Copyright Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Epidemiology, clinical features and long term-course of chronic hepatitis D were addressed in a non-endemic Central European area. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with chronic hepatitis D were identified among 1307 HBsAg carriers at the university hospital Düsseldorf during two decades (1989 - 2008) and followed for a mean of 7 +/- 6 years. Forty-one of these were treated with IFN-alfa for at least six months. RESULTS:Hepatitis D prevalence increased from 4.1 to 6.2 % among HBsAg carriers during the two decades (p < 0.06). Patients originating from the former Soviet Union (32.1 vs. 46.2 %) and Africa (0 vs. 17.9 %) became more frequent whereas the prevalence of patients from Southern Europe declined (46.5 vs.17.9 % p < 0.03). The time span between the diagnosis of hepatitis B and D was 4.8 +/- 7 years (p < 0.0001). A sustained virological response to interferon-alfa was achieved in 19.5 % of the patients. The yearly incidence rates for death, HCC and complications were 3.2 %, 2.7 % and 8 % among patients with liver cirrhosis. Estimated survival and complication-free survival during 12 years were 72 % and 45 % in cirrhotic compared to 100 % in non-cirrhotic patients (p < 0.008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION:Hepatitis D in western Germany appears to be on the increase and has a migration background that should be considered in clinical practice. Clinical outcome and response to IFN are as poor as in endemic regions, indicating the need to improve early diagnosis. Copyright Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York.
Authors: B Calle Serrano; A Großhennig; M Homs; B Heidrich; A Erhardt; K Deterding; J Jaroszewicz; B Bremer; A Koch; M Cornberg; M P Manns; M Buti; H Wedemeyer Journal: J Viral Hepat Date: 2014-03-27 Impact factor: 3.728
Authors: Ida Sperle; Gyde Steffen; Siv Aina Leendertz; Navina Sarma; Sandra Beermann; Roma Thamm; Yanita Simeonova; Markus Cornberg; Heiner Wedemeyer; Viviane Bremer; Ruth Zimmermann; Sandra Dudareva Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2020-08-28