Evidence of past delta co-infection with acute hepatitis B in intravenous drug abusers in the west of Scotland.
Two hundred sera from asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative intravenous drugs abusers (IVDAs) were tested for delta antibody and antiHBc to determine the number of delta co-infections occurring with acute hepatitis B infection in this group. Of the 200 sera, 15 were positive for antidelta and 143 for antiHBc, giving a delta co-infection rate of 10.5%. Laboratory records were consulted to ascertain which IVDAs had acute hepatitis B. Of 29 patients who submitted serum when HBsAg-positive, 10 are currently antidelta-positive. There was no evidence of loss of delta antibody after resolution of acute co-infection. The majority of those with delta co-infection had sought medical attention (10 of 15), whereas only a minority (19 of 128) with only hepatitis B did so. These results suggest that delta co-infection more often results in significant clinical illness than acute hepatitis B alone.
McCruden
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Regional Virus Laboratory, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
Follett
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EA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens