Comparison of clinical severity of hepatitis B and hepatitis D virus infections

ABSTRACT

This prospective study was done to assess the clinical severity of acute delta hepatitis as compared to acute HBV infection. A total of 51 HGsAg positive patients of acute viral hepatitis were admitted from October 1991 to July 1992. Among 51 HBsAg positive patients, 38 patients were anti-HD negative and 13 were anti-HD positive. The frequency of complications, particularly hepatic encephalopathy and bleeding diathesis were significantly higher in HDV infection [p< .05]. Mortality was higher in HDV infection [38.4%] as compared to HBV infection [21%]. These results show that HDV infection is more severe than HBV infection