We determined and analyzed risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected Brazilian hemophiliacs according to their virological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics. A cross-sectional and retrospective study of 469 hemophiliacs was carried out at a Brazilian blood center starting in October 1997. The prevalence of HCV infection, HCV genotypes and factors associated with HCV RNA detection was determined. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (ELISA-3.0) was 44.6% (209/469). Virological, clinical and epidemiological assessments were completed for 162 positive patients. There were seven (4.3%) anti-HCV seroconversions between October 1992 and October 1997. During the same period, 40.8% of the positive anti-HCV hemophiliacs had abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Plasma HCV RNA was detected by nested-RT-PCR in 116 patients (71.6%). RFLP analysis showed the following genotype distribution: HCV-1 in 98 hemophiliacs (84.5%), HCV-3 in ten (8.6%), HCV-4 in three (2.6%), HCV-2 in one (0.9%), and not typeable in four cases (3.4%). Univariate analysis indicated that older age (P = 0.017) and abnormal ALT levels (P = 0.010) were associated with HCV viremia, while the presence of inhibitor antibodies (P = 0.024) and HBsAg (P = 0.007) represented a protective factor against the presence of HCV RNA. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between HCV infection and hemophilia.

Objective: Describe the level of scientific evidence on infections by the hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) in Brazil. Methods: Integrative literature review, with research in the databases of the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, Scientific Eletronic Library Online and Scopus, with analysis focusing on the leveling of the methodological rigor according to the model of Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt. Results: The search revealed an average of two publications a year between 1987 and 2017. We selected 33 articles, the majority (91%) presented level of evidence VI. The publications were concentrated in the area of tropical medicine (46%) and virology (15%). The authors of 85% of the studies were medical professionals and the most common design was the descriptive/cross-sectional (69.6%). Conclusion: Scientific literature on HDV infections in Brazil is focused on prevalence studies, showing incipiency regarding the production of studies with stricter guidelines, such as clinical trials. ResumoObjetivo: Descrever o nível de evidência científica sobre a infecção por vírus da hepatite Delta (VHD) no Brasil. Métodos: Revisão integrativa da literatura, com buscas realizadas nas bases de dados do Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Scientific Eletronic Library Online e Scopus, com análise centrada no nivelamento do rigor metodológico de acordo com o modelo de Melnyk e Fineout-Overholt. Resultados: A busca revelou uma média de duas publicações por ano no intervalo entre 1987 e 2017. Foram selecionados 33 artigos, tendo a maioria (91%) apresentado nível de evidência VI. As publicações ficaram concentradas em periódicos da área de medicina tropical (46%) e virologia (15%). Dos trabalhos, 85% tinha profissional médico com autor e o delineamento mais encontrado foi o descritivo/transversal (69,6%). Conclusão: A produção científica sobre a infecção por VHD no Brasil está centrada em estudos de prevalência, mostrando-se incipiente quanto à produção de estudos com delineamentos mais rígidos como ensaios clínicos.

Objective: compare chronic hepatitis B patients to those superinfected with hepatitis D virus, according to Child-Pugh score regarding disease severity. Method: retrospective descriptive study, performed with 59 patients followed in the ambulatory, of which 22 (37.3%) were chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (Group HBV) and 37 (62.7%) superinfected with Delta virus (Group HBV+HDV); variables of sex, age and items of Child-Pugh score were collected by consulting medical records. Results: out of the patients, 57.6% were male, with a mean age of 30.5 years. Score A, which indicates lesser severity, was found in 100% of group HBV and 78.4% of group HBV+HDV. Score B, which indicates greater severity, was found only in group HBV+HDV in 21.6% of the patients. Conclusion: by means of the Child-Pugh score, it was observed that patients with superinfection by HDV tended to present a worse prognosis.

Exceto onde especificado diferentemente, a matéria publicada neste periódico é licenciada sob forma de uma licença Creative Commons -Atribuição 4. 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 analyzedhave 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. RESUMO ABSTRACT