RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical and histological features of delta infection in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers. JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 530 OP 533 DO 10.1136/jcp.38.5.530 VO 38 IS 5 A1 A S Lok A1 I Lindsay A1 P J Scheuer A1 H C Thomas YR 1985 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/38/5/530.abstract AB One hundred and six consecutive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers were studied for the prevalence of delta markers in serum and tissue, and the clinical and histological features of those with and without delta infection were compared. Twenty (18.9%) patients were positive for anti-delta in serum or delta antigen in the liver or both. They presented at a younger age (30.3 v 38 years). All of them were symptomatic at the time of biopsy, in contrast to 35% of patients without delta infection who were not symptomatic. Those with delta infection had higher serum transaminase values and showed more severe liver damage on biopsy: chronic active hepatitis in 45% and cirrhosis in 55%. There was more pronounced disease activity both within the parenchyma and in the portal and periportal zones. The histological diagnosis of the 86 patients without delta infection included minimal disease (10%), chronic persistent hepatitis (9%), chronic active hepatitis (62%), and cirrhosis (19%). Delta infection in chronic HBV carriers is associated with a more active and progressive liver disease.