Permanent HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B viral infection following acute delta superinfection.

Three patients are described with chronic hepatitis B virus infection for three to six years before hepatitis delta virus superinfection occurred. Liver biopsy performed in two patients prior to their delta illness revealed chronic persistent hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis, respectively. Within one to seven months of the acute delta event, all three patients lost their circulating hepatitis B surface antigen. Subsequently, delta antibody also cleared. Clinical well-being and normal transaminases were documented over 10-44 months of follow-up. Although most cases of delta infection in chronic hepatitis B result in severe or progressive disease, a small number of patients may develop clearance of the HBsAg with clearance of both B and delta infections.