272 Ataei B et al. ern Europe and western Asia. Our findings are consistent with the results of Hassanjani-Roshan, in which the rate of HDV infection in northern Iran was not significantly different between various age groups (3). Moreover, this prevalence was slightly, but insignificantly, higher in women. The prevalence of HDV antibody in HbeAg-positive patients was higher than in HBeAb-positive cases, but in our study, the prevalence of HDV antibody in HBeAb- positive patients was higher compared with HBeAg- positive persons. In Celen and colleagues, a significant relationship was reported in 2005 in Turkey between the duration of positivity of HBsAg and HDV antibody, but a significant relationship did not exist between HBeAg or antibody and HDV antibody (24). We did not observe an association between the duration of HBV and HDV infec- tion. Local data have shown that the progression of liver damage in cases of HBV infection are not low, suggesting that prognostic indicators, including coinfections and superinfections, must be determined (25). In conclusion, researchers should be aware of the risk of coinfection and superinfection of HBV and HDV in this region. The prevalence of HDV in high-risk individuals in Iran has only been reported by Karimi and colleagues, who noted HDV antibody in 25.2% of dialysis patients in Tehran (13). Therefore, it is necessary to assess the frequency of HDV in high-risk individuals, including in- travenous drug users and continual recipients of blood and blood products, such as patients with thalassemia, hemophilia, and coagulation factor deficiencies, in Isfa- han and other regions of Iran. In addition, studies are necessary to identify transmission routes of HDV in Isfa- han and other regions of Iran to design programs for the prevention of HDV infection in the community. 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