title: [Delta agent infection and immunoglobulin G in acute HBsAg-positive hepatitis with chronic course].
abstract: In 18 patients with clinical evidence of acute hepatitis, positive for HBsAg, and evolution to chronic infection, we detected the presence of antibodies to the delta agent (anti-HDV), in relation to the immunoglobulin serum level. The IgG were significantly higher during the beginning of the acute phase in the 6 positive cases for anti-HDV than in the patients who were anti-HDV negative. In the group positive for anti-HDV, the IgG remained high also during the following months, with a more severe clinical evolution. Among patients positive for anti-HDV there were no significant differences between the initial level of IgG and the presence or not of IgM anti-HBc during the acute phase of the disease (respectively patients with co-infection or super-infection). These results show that the presence of high levels of IgG during the acute phase of HBsAg positive hepatitis suggests the co-existence of delta infection.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Malattie Infettive OO.CC.RR. Venezia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagariello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasquinucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belussi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Canton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
vernacular_title: Infezione da agente delta ed immunoglobuline G nella epatite acuta HBsAg-positiva ad evoluzione cronica.