Hepatitis Delta Infections in Toronto, Ontario
This study assessed the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection, the relation of this infection to the clinical and histological status and to the geographic origin of 216 patients with hepatitis B virus infection in Toronto, Ontario. Evidence of delta infection was present in 13 of the 216 pa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1988-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1988/892490 |
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| Summary: | This study assessed the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection,
the relation of this infection to the clinical and histological status and to the geographic
origin of 216 patients with hepatitis B virus infection in Toronto, Ontario. Evidence
of delta infection was present in 13 of the 216 patients (6.0%). It was more common in
patients with acute hepatitis (11.1%) and with chronic hepatitis (16.7%) than in asymptomatic
carriers (3.6%). It was not present in the three patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma. The clinical course of the two patients with acute hepatitis and delta
markers was similar to patients with hepatitis B alone and both made a complete
recovery. Of the five patients with chronic liver disease and delta markers, three had
severe chronic active hepatitis. Three of the 13 patients with delta infection were
born in Canada. All three patients were intravenous drug abusers. Of the 10 patients
not born in Canada, eight were immigrants from countries where delta infection is
endemic. The remaining two were from West Germany and China. From this study
it was concluded that, in Toronto, delta infection was more common in patients with
acute and chronic hepatitis B than in asymptomatic carriers. Patients with both acute
hepatitis Band delta infection had a similar clinical course to patients with acute
hepatitis B alone. Patients with chronic hepatitis B and delta infection frequently
had severe chronic active hepatitis. In Canadian-born patients delta infection was
present in intravenous drug abusers only. Most immigrants with evidence of delta
infection came from countries where delta is endemic. |
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| ISSN: | 0835-7900 |