[Clinical significance of the hepatitis Delta virus and its incidence in virus B positive chronic liver diseases].

The data on hepatitis delta virus and the liver diseases caused by it are reviewed. The findings of hepatitis B and D virus markers in 118 hepatitis B virus seropositive patients suffering from histologically confirmed chronic liver disease are reported. The prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection was 13.56% of these cases, while active hepatitis delta virus replication was proved in 6 cases of them. Based on their findings, the role of hepatitis delta virus in the progression of chronic liver diseases is concluded, similarly to data published earlier. The importance of repeated, detailed virus-serological and histological examinations is stressed, especially in the cases in which the progression of liver disease are detected. The authors suggest that HBsAg--IgM complex seropositivity in patients suffering from anti-delta seropositive chronic liver disease supports active hepatitis delta virus infection.