[Delta infection in various forms of hepatitis B]

Blood serum of 126 patients infected by HBV was studied for the presence of anti-delta antibodies. They were found in 8 patients (6.3%): in 5 out of 99 cases of chronic hepatitis in non-drug-addicts and in 3 out of 4 drug-addicts. No delta antibodies were found in 20 HBV carriers or 3 cases of supra-acute hepatitis. The disease in delta virus infected patients had a more severe course, often accompanied by the lack of active replication of HBV. The results of the examinations show to the presence of delta virus infections in Poland.