Hepatitis delta virus infection in southern Taiwan.

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in Southern Taiwan in comparison to that of Northern Taiwan, a consecutive series of 389 HBsAg-positive patients were tested for serum antibody to HDV (anti-HD) by radioimmunoassay. The anti-HD was positive in 2/122 (1.6%) asymptomatic "healthy" carriers, 1/61 (1.6%) blood donors, 1/24 (4.2%) patients with acute type B hepatitis, 4/25 (16%) carriers with superimposed acute hepatitis, 5/53 (9.4%) patients with chronic hepatitis, 3/42 (7.1%) patients with liver cirrhosis and 1/62 (1.6%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Our findings confirm that the prevalence of HDV infection is low in asymptomatic carriers, acute type B hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but significantly higher in patients with chronic active liver disease. No significant difference in the prevalence of HDV infection between Southern and Northern Taiwan was observed.