Delta infection and hepatitis B virus replication in Danish patients with fulminant hepatitis B.

Abstract

The presence of hepatitis B virus and delta agent markers was investigated in 41 patients referred during the years 1970-1985 with fulminant hepatitis classified as type B or non-A non-B and compared to findings in patients with uncomplicated hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B infection. 13 patients had no markers of hepatitis B and delta infection and were classified as non-A non-B hepatitis. The remaining 28 patients were all HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc positive and 14 (50%) had evidence of delta infection. In contrast, only 13/71 patients (18%) with acute benign hepatitis B had evidence of delta coinfection (p less than 0.005). This corresponds to an odds ratio of 4.5 for development of fulminant hepatitis among patients with hepatitis B and delta coinfection. In 100 chronic HBsAg carriers 29% were positive for delta markers. 12 of the delta infected patients with fulminant hepatitis were positive for total antibody to the delta antigen, and 2 were delta antigen positive. Three were HBeAg positive/anti-HBe negative. None had hepatitis B virus DNA. Among the 14 patients without delta infection, hepatitis B virus DNA was found in 2/4 HBeAg positive/anti-HBe negative patients and in 1/8 patients negative for both markers. The present data indicate that a high proportion of Danish patients with fulminant hepatitis B have hepatitis B and delta agent coinfection. Further, the findings suggest that hepatitis B and delta coinfection may be associated with an increased risk of development of fulminant hepatitis as compared to that of hepatitis B alone.

• Authors: K Krogsgaard, L R Mathiesen, J Aldershvile, P Kryger, P Andersson, B G Hansson, J O Nielsen, L Ranek
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases (Scand J Infect Dis) Vol. 20 Issue 2 Pg. 127-33 ( 1988) ISSN: 0036-5548 [Print] England
• PMID: 3135586 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Child
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Denmark
• Female
• Hepatitis B (complications, microbiology)
• Hepatitis B Antibodies (analysis)
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens (immunology)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B virus (physiology)
• Hepatitis C (complications)
• Hepatitis D (complications)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Human (complications)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin M (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Time Factors
• Virus Replication