TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequency and significance of delta antibody in acute and chronic hepatitis B. A United States experience
AU - Shiels, Mark T.
AU - Czaja, Albert J.
AU - Taswell, Howard F.
AU - Gerin, John L.
AU - Purcell, Robert H.
AU - Ludwig, Jurgen
AU - Rakela, Jorge
AU - Nelson, Cheryl A.
PY - 1985/12
Y1 - 1985/12
N2 - Of 560 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients who were tested for antibody to hepatitis δ-antigen by blocking radioimmunoassay, 29 (5%) were seropositive. Patients with chronic active hepatitis had a greater frequency of seropositivity than those with chronic persistent hepatitis (26% vs. 0%, p < 0.05), and patients with symptomatic chronic disease harbored the antibody more commonly than asymptomatic counterparts (14% vs. 2%, p < 0.01) or patients with acute hepatitis (14% vs. 1%, p < 0.02). Of 8 patients with acute fulminant hepatitis, including 6 who died of liver failure, none were seropositive. Antibody was detected in drug users, dialysis patients, hemophiliacs, and transfusion recipients; in 17 patients, however, including 3 homosexuals, it occurred sporadically. Samples harvested in 1969 contained δ-antibody. Antibody was found in most ethnic groups, including Orientals, where it occurred only in relocated Vietnamese. We conclude that δ-antibody is detected infrequently in a diverse referral population within the United States. Seropositivity is associated with symptomatic chronic disease and histologic findings of chronic active hepatitis. Homosexuals and resettled Vietnamese are susceptible to sporadic δ-infection.
AB - Of 560 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients who were tested for antibody to hepatitis δ-antigen by blocking radioimmunoassay, 29 (5%) were seropositive. Patients with chronic active hepatitis had a greater frequency of seropositivity than those with chronic persistent hepatitis (26% vs. 0%, p < 0.05), and patients with symptomatic chronic disease harbored the antibody more commonly than asymptomatic counterparts (14% vs. 2%, p < 0.01) or patients with acute hepatitis (14% vs. 1%, p < 0.02). Of 8 patients with acute fulminant hepatitis, including 6 who died of liver failure, none were seropositive. Antibody was detected in drug users, dialysis patients, hemophiliacs, and transfusion recipients; in 17 patients, however, including 3 homosexuals, it occurred sporadically. Samples harvested in 1969 contained δ-antibody. Antibody was found in most ethnic groups, including Orientals, where it occurred only in relocated Vietnamese. We conclude that δ-antibody is detected infrequently in a diverse referral population within the United States. Seropositivity is associated with symptomatic chronic disease and histologic findings of chronic active hepatitis. Homosexuals and resettled Vietnamese are susceptible to sporadic δ-infection.
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U2 - 10.1016/0016-5085(85)90637-7
DO - 10.1016/0016-5085(85)90637-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 4054516
AN - SCOPUS:0022368814
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 89
SP - 1230
EP - 1234
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 6
ER -