In relation to an article titled "Diagnostic Efficacy of Serological Antibody Detection Tests for Hepatitis Delta Virus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" by Zhenzhen Pan et al. (2023), what factors contribute to the prolonged presence of anti-HDV IgG antibodies in individuals with HDV infection?
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Anti-HDV IgG is detected in all individuals affected with the virus and stays positive even after viral clearance, leading to false-positive results. One factor contributing to the prolonged presence of anti-HDV in HDV-infected individuals is their immune system status. IgG anti-HDV is found to persist longer in immunocompromised individuals and may also indicate chronic or previous HDV infection. Apart from this, the prolonged presence of IgG in those affected with Hepatitis D is caused by its half-life, which is longer than the other immunoglobulins. This means that once IgG is produced, it will persist in the blood for an extended time; this prolonged half-life is what causes IgG to stay positive even after viral clearance. A chronic HDV (both IgG and IgM are present) infection can also cause its persistence. Individuals with a chronic Hepatitis D infection cause the immune system to constantly produce anti-HDV IgG to contain/ neutralize the virus. Recurrent or persistent HDV exposure is also a contributing factor because it also stimulates the immune system to produce and maintain elevated anti-HDV IgG antibodies to prevent the occurrence of reinfection.
References:
Gish, R. (n.d.). Diagnosing and Screening for Hepatitis D Viral Infection. https://www.hepb.org/assets/Uploads/Gish-HDV-Diagnositic-Analysis-Whitepaper-1.pdf
Hepatitis Delta Antigen - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Www.sciencedirect.com. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/hepatitis-delta-antigen
Routes, J. (2016). Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine (Sixth Edition). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/immunoglobulin-g#:~:text=IgG%20is%20the%20most%20plentiful,that%20of%20the%20other%20isotypes
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