Hepatitis D virus infection in a large cohort of immigrants in southern Italy: a multicenter, prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since few data are available in the literature on the prevalence of anti-Delta-positive subjects in immigrant populations, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic and virological characteristics of HDV infection in a large cohort of immigrants living in southern Italy.

Methods

Between January 2012 and February 2020 all immigrants attending one of the 5 first- level centers were enrolled and screened for HBsAg, the HBsAg-positive for anti-Delta and if positive, for HDV-RNA and HDV genotype.

Results

Of the 3521 immigrants observed in the study period, 3417 (97.0%) agreed to be screened; they were mainly males (61%), with a median age of 27 years (IQR 8-74) and came prevalently (58%) from sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 3417 patients enrolled,

SUBMITTER: Pisaturo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9554856 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature