Prevalence of hepatitis delta (delta) virus infection. A seroepidemiologic study.

In assessing the prevalence of hepatitis delta (delta) virus (HDV) infection in 358 patients with acute hepatitis B seen in Los Angeles between 1983 and 1985 and in 196 patients with chronic hepatitis B followed between 1980 and 1985, we found that 23% of patients with chronic and 5% of patients with acute hepatitis B were infected with HDV. Among patients with chronic hepatitis B, the prevalence of HDV infection was 73% in intravenous drug users and 14% in homosexual men. Acute coinfection with the hepatitis B virus was also more frequent in drug users (8%) than in other groups. delta-Hepatitis is a common infection in hepatitis B virus carriers in Los Angeles, particularly in drug addicts, but also in homosexual men who do not abuse drugs intravenously.