Background & Aims The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in Uzbekistan but the medical impact of infection with the HBV‐dependent hepatitis D virus (HDV) is unknown in the Country. An Hepatology Center was recently established at the Institute of Virology in Tashkent, which has set up a database enlisting patients with chronic viral liver disorders from all over Uzbekistan; it provides an observatory on the current scenario of viral hepatitis in the Country. Methods The prevalence of HBV monoinfection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HDV superinfection on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive cirrhosis was determined in 6589 patients with viral cirrhosis collected in the last 3 years. Results Of 1089, 1150 and 1455 carriers of the HBsAg with cirrhosis recruited in 2016, 2017 and 2018, 834 (76.5%), 926 (80.5%) and 1224 (84%) respectively, had antibody to the HDV. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the prevalence of HDV infection has been 41%, 45% and 49.1% respectively, largely exceeding the prevalence of HBV monoinfection (12.5%, 11% and 9.3% respectively) and surpassing the prevalence of HCV in 2017 and 2018 (44% and 41.5% respectively). The median age of the patients with HDV cirrhosis was 39 years, distinctly lower than that of HBV and HCV patients (46 and 55). Conclusions Superinfection with the HDV is present in over 80% of the HBsAg‐positive cirrhosis in Uzbekistan. The HDV appears to be the major cause of advanced viral liver disease and of juvenile cirrhosis in the Country.

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Objective. To evaluate the role of dynamics of WFA+-M2BP, a serum marker of liver fibrosis, in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Patients and methods. We examined 56 CHC patients who received antiviral therapy. The severity of liver fibrosis was assessed using indirect elastometry. There were 8 patients with F0 fibrosis, 17 patients with F1 fibrosis, 6 patients with F2 fibrosis, 12 patients with F3 fibrosis, and 13 patients with F4 fibrosis. The level of WFA+-M2BP was measured prior to treatment initiation, then 1 month after treatment initiation, and 3 months after treatment completion. Results. We found that both CHC patients and patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis demonstrated a decrease in the serum level of WFA+-M2BP in response to antiviral therapy. Mean levels of WFA+-M2BP in individuals with F3 and F4 fibrosis were significantly higher than those in patients with F0 fibrosis (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Higher grades of liver cirrhosis were associated with higher serum levels of WFA+-M2BP, while antiviral therapy led to a decrease in the concentration of this biomarker. The assessment of WFA+-M2BP dynamics will help to detect early stages of liver fibrosis and also to monitor it in patients receiving antiviral therapy. Key words: chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis caused by HCV, biomarker, WFA+-M2BP, liver fibrosis, antiviral therapy