HERACLIS-HDV cohort for the factors of underdiagnosis and prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in HBsAg-positive patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) underdiagnosis remains common. We assessed the HDV screening and prevalence rates in HBsAg-positive patients seen at tertiary liver centres throughout Greece as well as factors affecting HDV diagnosis. METHODS: All adult HBsAg-positive patients seen within the last 5 years were included. Non-screened patients who visited or could be recalled to the clinics over a 6-month period were prospectively tested for anti-HDV. RESULTS: Of 5079 HBsAg-positive patients, 53% had anti-HDV screening (41% before and 12% after study initiation). Pre-study (8%-88%) and total screening rates (14%-100%) varied widely among centres. Screening rates were associated with older age, known risk group, elevated ALT, centre location and size and period of first visit. Anti-HDV prevalence was 5.8% without significant difference in patients screened before (6.1%) or after study initiation (4.7%, p = 0.240). Anti-HDV positivity was associated with younger age, parenteral drug use, born abroad, advanced liver disease and centre location. Overall, HDV RNA detectability rate was 71.6% being more frequent in anti-HDV-positive patients with elevated ALT, advanced liver disease and hepatitis B therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HDV screening rates and recall capabilities vary widely among Greek liver clinics being higher in HBsAg-positive patients of known risk group with active/advanced liver disease seen at smaller centres, while non-medical factors are also important. Anti-HDV prevalence varies throughout Greece being higher in patients born abroad with younger age, parenteral drug use and advanced liver disease. Viremia is more frequently but not exclusively detected in anti-HDV-positive patients with elevated ALT and advanced liver disease.

A Four-Probiotics Regimen Combined with A Standard Helicobacter pylori-Eradication Treatment Reduces Side Effects and Increases Eradication Rates.

Aim: To establish whether the addition of probiotics to a globally accepted Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-eradication scheme may reduce the rates of side effects and increase the eradication rates. Methods. Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of patients receiving eradication therapy for H. pylori in the eight participating centers. All patients received a 10-day proton pump inhibitor containing non-bismuth quadruple therapeutic regimen for H. pylori eradication (omeprazole 20 mg, amoxycillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg, and metronidazole 500 mg all twice daily orally) and were randomized to receive either probiotics (group A) or placebo (group B). The probiotic used combined four probiotic strains, i.e., Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Results. Data were analyzed for 329 patients in group A and 335 patients in group B. Fifty six (17.0%) patients in group A and 170 (50.7%) patients in group B reported the occurrence of an H. pylori treatment-associated new symptom or the aggravation of a pre-existing symptom of any severity (p < 0.00001). H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 303 patients in group A (92.0%) and 291 patients in group B (86.8%), (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Adding probiotics to the 10-day concomitant non-bismuth quadruple H. pylori eradication regimen increases the eradication rate and decreases side effects.