Influence of delta infection on severity of hepatitis B - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 1982 Oct 30;2(8305):945-7.

doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(82)90156-8.

P Farci, G Verme, F Caredda, A Cargnel, N Caporaso, P Dentico, C Trepo, P Opolon, A Gimson, D Vergani, R Williams, M Rizzetto

Influence of delta infection on severity of hepatitis B

A Smedile et al. Lancet. 1982.

Abstract

The prevalence of serum markers of primary delta infection was determined in 532 patients with acute benign hepatitis B seen in Italy, and in 111 patients with fulminant hepatitis B seen in Italy, France and England. Patients with fulminant hepatitis had significantly higher prevalence of delta markers (43/111, 39%) than did those with benign hepatitis (101/532, 19%). In 25 of the 43 patients with delta-positive fulminant hepatitis, serum markers indicated a primary hepatitis B infection while in the remaining 18, IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen was absent, indicating that hepatitis B preceded superinfection with the delta agent. The increased morbidity of HBsAg hepatitis with delta infection may result from the cumulative simultaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus and delta, or from superinfection of HBsAg carriers with delta.

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