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Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection and Labrea Hepatitis

Authors :
Gilberta Bensabath
Hans Popper
Stephen C. Hadler
Leônidas Braga Dias
Howard A. Fields
James E. Maynard
M. C. Pereira Soares
Source :
JAMA. 258:479
Publication Year :
1987
Publisher :
American Medical Association (AMA), 1987.

Abstract

To define more exactly the epidemiology of delta virus infection and confirm its role in causing fulminant Labrea hepatitis in the Amazon Basin, we studied the prevalence of delta virus infection among persons with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the Boca do Acre district of the southern Amazon Basin. Delta virus infection was found in 24% of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers, 29% of acute nonfulminant hepatitis B cases, 74% of fulminant hepatitis B cases, and 100% of chronic hepatitis B cases. Chronic delta virus infection occurred primarily in older children and adults, while acute and fulminant delta virus infection occurred in young children as well. In fulminant hepatitis cases, delta virus superinfection of hepatitis B virus carriers was the most common serological pattern; histopathologic examination showed features identical to those described in fulminant hepatitis cases of similar etiology in Colombia and Venezuela. Delta virus infection is highly endemic in the southern Amazon Basin and is the principal cause of Labrea hepatitis. ( JAMA 1987;258:479-483)

Details

ISSN :
00987484
Volume :
258
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
JAMA
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....988c1f51961a621458fb80b228089889
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1987.03400040077025