[Frequency of D virus markers at a specialty hospital]

Considering that hepatitis B infection prevalence is high in our hospital, we felt it necessary to determine the frequency of the delta hepatitis. We studied 85 consecutive patients who were HBsAg positive analyzing the delta antibody through the immunoenzymatic method. We found 2 cases (2.3%); one being coinfection and other one an superinfection. Because delta virus not only influences the prognosis but also the therapeutic response total treatment of hepatitis B we recommended the routine detection of delta virus.