Hepatitis delta in minor salivary glands

Networking and learning resources Scientific Studies
1

There was discoverd hepatitis delta in minor salivary glands of Sjogren Patients in Utah.
There is biopsy needed to get diagnose.
Maybe somebody knows any other place in Europe where such biopsy with hdv detection can be done?

2

Hi @Kamila,

Thanks for highlighting this really interesting research. These are purely descriptive studies at the moment and it’s not clear that HDV detection in salivary glands has any effect on pathology (within the liver or the salivary glands).

It’s currently being seen as a scientific curiosity and as such, I don’t think there are any standard screening diagnostics for biopsying the salivary glands for HDV.

Happy for any @HealthExperts to weigh in here.

Cheers,
Thomas

1 Like
3

I fully agree with Thomas

Regards

PL

1 Like
4

This needs also to be confirmed with another investigator

1 Like
5

Thank you for answer. I was wondering if xerostomia of hyposalivation in hiv patients can be an effect of delta virus in their salivary glands. Lastly, there are a few case reports and scientific papers published about this symptom even amoung people on HAART therapy. I am not talking about DILS syndrom, which is usually reversable after switch to HAART therapy.

Antiretroviral medications do not seem to cause hyposalivation according to some research. It also doesn’t depend on the duration of hiv infection. So there must be another cause. As these group of patients is always susceptible to new viruses, I think the minor salivary glands of these patients should be checked for delta virus first of other groups, as this can be a new virus epidemic.

It is not strictly connected post with hepatitis delta, as delta virus in minor salivary glands has to be on other helper virus. But the medications which are discoverd for delta virus on hbv as a helper virus can do work for delta virus in salivary glands. I think about NAPs which blocks delta replication. It would be wise to check if they work for this group of patients, hiv positief with hyposalivation.

6

Thank you @ThomasTu It is an interesting concept, and needs further studies

7

Dear, I wrote this post to @ThomasTu.
I had such situation which bring me to the conclution that there is a new virus, not detectible by test yet.
I had hiv + partner 6 years ago. I didn’t know he is positief. Few days after unprotected contact I started to have stomach and joints pain, 3 months later liver problems so I stayed sick in bed for a few months. In March this year I lost my saliva. Since this contact I experience also stomach problems, so I thought I have hepatitis delta with mutated hbv, not detectible by test. I do not smoke, no drink alkohol, no take drugs of meditations. It was my only partner and before I was completly healthy. I tested all blood borne viruses but I was and I am still negatief to all. I suppose he had a new virus which is not detectable by tests yet. I have read about delta virus in salivary glands which gives Sjogren like symptoms and salivary gland disease. It causes lack of saliva, dry mouth, difficulty in eating.
I found some articles about xerostomia during hiv treatment. But I do not think it is an effect of ART but a new virus, delta which was found in minor salivary glands of Sjogren patients in Utah.

My doctors do not know what is the reason that I lost my saliva as I test negatief to all viruses and I do not have Sjogren. The only risk factor I had was contact with hiv +, 6 years ago. I do have ANA antibodies positief and higher calprotectine 135. I can not eat because I do not produce saliva. I just want to share my case.

8

Thanks for your patience with my reply, I have been at a conference recently and could not get back to some of these questions very quickly.

My understanding is that there is no evidence that HDV (with or without HBV co-infection) causes Sjogren like symptoms or any salivary gland disease.

Perhaps @MelodieWeller could comment?

By the way, we actively invite the authors of any papers mentioned on this forum to join and discuss their work directly. Please let us know if you would like to get into discussions with any academic or clinician of various studies and HepBCommunity will try to make it happen!

1 Like