Seroprevalence of hepatitis D virus and its risk factors in the west of Iran.

Despite the decreasing trend in hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection worldwide, the importance of this disease cannot be underestimated. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients positive for HBsAg with respect to HDV infection and related factors. Patients with chronic hepatitis B who presented at Hamedan Province Hepatitis Community Center in 2002-2007 were included. A questionnaire covering demographic variables and history of hepatic disease was completed for each patient. Necessary tests were performed and antibodies to HDV were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 81 HBsAg positive patients, 14 (17.3%) contained anti-HDV IgG. Only one of the patients with anti-HDV IgM was positive for HBsAg. Of the anti-HDV IgG positive patients, two (14.3%) were women. Among the women examined in this study, 24 (35.8%) were anti-HDV IgG negative (p = 0.21), and of these, six (42.8%) were HBeAg positive while 17 (25.4%) of the anti-HDV IgG negative women were positive for HBeAg (p = 0.16). The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B among anti-HDV IgG positive and negative patients was 28.6% and 39.2% respectively (p = 0.31). Because of the relatively high rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV co-infection in our study subjects, it is vital that healthcare providers and policy makers to recognize the risk factors associated with this HBV and HDV co-infection as well as the reasons for this increased anti-HDV serology in HBV carriers.

Association of susceptibility to brucellosis and interleukin-4 promoter polymorphism.

A C-T substitution at position 590 in the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene is associated with increased production of IL-4. We sought to determine the associations between this polymorphism and susceptibility to brucellosis. DNA was extracted from the whole blood of 163 control individuals and 282 patients with brucellosis. A polymorphism in the IL-4 gene at position 590 from the promoter site was determined using an allele-specific PCR method. The prevalence of the T allele of IL-4 polymorphism was significantly higher in the patients group than in controls (28.9% vs 11.4%, p<0.004). Patients with brucellosis had a higher frequency of intermediate producer genotype (CT) (53.5% vs 22.7%, p<0.001) while low producer genotype (CC) was higher in the control group (77.3% vs 44.4%). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients who were heterozygous (CT) for interleukin-4 promoter polymorphism had a significantly higher risk for brucellosis with an odds ratio of 4.2 (95% CI 2.7-6.6, p<0.0001). Our findings demonstrate for the first time an association between IL-4 590 promoter polymorphism and contracting brucellosis in the Iranian population.