Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis D superinfection in patients in the brazilian Western Amazon.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Once Hepatitis B is a global public health problem, and the disease, when associated with Hepatitis D develops a severe clinical patterns. This study aims to approach this correlation between both hepatitis viruses. In Brazil, HBV and HDV infections have elevated indicators in the western Amazon, where usually is reported clinical severe manifestations of the disease, and also death from fulminant infection. The objective was to compare clinical, biochemical and serological aspects of patients infected by HBV with those patients superinfected by HDV. Method: Descriptive study based on secondary data from medical records of 208 patients. These patients were divided into two (2) groups (HBV and HBV+HDV), followed in Hepatology Clinic from Sanitary Dermatology Hospital in Cruzeiro do Sul city, Acre state, a regional reference healthcenter. Results: 42.8% - of the 208 records analyzed - have presented HBV infection, and 57.2% were diagnosed with coinfection, ie. HBV+HDV, associated hepatitis viruses infection. Both patients group were predominantly male (67.4% = HBV, and 67.2% = HBV+HDV), aged between 12 and 31 years old. Regarding the analysis of clinical, serological, biochemical and hematological, an overview have showed that, the group with associated HBV+HDV infection presented a poorer prognosis compared to the group with HBV monoinfection. Conclusion: It is possible to assert that superinfection by HDV, in the western Brazilian Amazon, is a serious health problem. It is necessary to carry out studies, especially with clinical approach, concerning chronically ill patients. KEYWORDS: hepatitis B. hepatitis D. gastroenterology.