The delta agent in acute and chronic hepatitis B infection in Sweden.
The occurrence of the delta (delta) agent was analyzed in 89 patients with acute hepatitis B infection during 1976-1979 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and in 46 patients (16 drug addicts) with chronic HBsAg-positive liver disease. Four of the patients with acute hepatitis B had transiently detectable anti-delta antibodies in serum. At least three of these four cases were associated with intravenous drug abuse. Eleven of the HBsAg carriers (24%) were anti-delta-positive, and all of them were drug addicts. One of the drug addicts transmitted hepatitis B infection without detectable anti-delta in serum to two other non-addicts via parenteral routes. Apparently, in Sweden today delta-infection is mostly restricted to drug addicts and seldom found in other groups of hepatitis B patients.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000906:Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens