title: [Delta virus superinfection in a patient with chronic viral hepatitis B].
abstract: Hepatitis-Delta virus is a defective RNA virus enclosing the Delta antigen and genome within a coat of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Prevalence of Delta virus is limited to individuals with hepatitis B infection. Two modes of infection have been identified: coinfection with hepatitis virus B of healthy individuals and superinfection of HBsAg carriers. In a prospective study of 485 liver biopsies from HBsAg seropositive patients, 320 non-replicative HBsAg carriers (without evidence of core antigen) were discovered. In only one of these cases could a Delta virus superinfection be confirmed by immunohistology. It caused a shift from a preexisting chronic persistent to a chronic active hepatitis. This is the first case of chronic Delta virus infection confirmed by immunhistology in the G.D.R.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; C442244:hepatitis delta virus large antigen
vernacular_title: Delta-Virus-Superinfektion bei einem Patienten mit chronischer Virushepatitis B.