Delta Agent and Hepatitis B
Authors: Allan G. Redeker
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

Editorials1 April 1983Delta Agent and Hepatitis BALLAN G. REDEKER, M.D.ALLAN G. REDEKER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-4-542 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn 1977, Rizzetto and associates (1) reported an intriguing finding seen while staining liver biopsy specimens from patients whose sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The antiserum stained the nuclei of some specimens in which hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) could be shown by other means, but also stained specimens that could be shown not to contain HBcAg. This finding suggested that there were two distinct nuclear antigenic specificities and that the antiserum used contained two antibodies, one being anti-HBc. The authors proposed that this new antigen-antibody system be called delta.During the subsequent 5 years much...References1. RIZZETTO M, CANESE M, and ARICO S. Immunofluorescence detection of a new antigen-antibody system (δ/anti-δ) associated with hepatitis B virus in liver and serum of HBsAg carriers. Gut. 1977; 18:997-1003. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. RIZZETTO M, HOYER B, CANESE M, SHIH J, PURCELL R, and GERIN J. δ agent: the association of δ antigen with hepatitis B surface antigen and RNA in serum of δ-infected chimpanzees. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1980;77:6124-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. RIZZETTO M, CANESE M, GERIN J, LONDON W, SLY D, and PURCELL R. Transmission of hepatitis B virus-associated delta antigen to chimpanzees. J Infect Dis. 1980;141:590-602. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. HANSSON B, MOESTRUP T, WIDELL A, and NORDENFELT E. Infection with delta agent in Sweden: introduction of a new hepatitis agent. J Infect Dis. 1982;146:472-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. RAIMONDO G, SMEDILE A, GALLO L, BALBO A, PONZETTO A, and RIZZETTO M. Multicentre study of prevalence of HBV-associated delta infection and liver disease in drug-addicts. Lancet. 1982;1:249-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. RIZZETTO M, PURCELL R, and GERIN J. Epidemiology of HBV associated delta agent: geographical distribution of anti-delta and prevalence in poly transfused HBsAg carriers. Lancet. 1980;1:1215-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. RIZZETTO M, VERME G, and RECCHIA S. Chronic HBsAg hepatitis with intrahepatic expression of the delta antigen: an active and progressive disease unresponsive to immunosuppressive treatment. Ann Intern Med. 1983;98:437-41. LinkGoogle Scholar8. STOECKLIN E, GUDAT F, and KREY G. Delta antigen in hepatitis B: immunohistology of frozen and paraffin-embedded liver biopsies and relation to HBV-infection. Hepatology. 1981;1:238-42. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. BALART L, RAKELA J, and REDEKER A. The natural history of HBsAg positive chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis [Abstract]. Gastroenterology. 1982;82:1221. Google Scholar10. SMITH C, ANDRES L, and SCULLARD G. Survival in 279 patients with chronic hepatitis B liver disease [Abstract]. Hepatology. 1981;1:548. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: ALLAN G. REDEKER, M.D. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe impact of molecular biology in the diagnosis and management of viral hepatitisDelta and non-A, non-B hepatitis virusesNonocular manifestations of parenteral drug abuseHepatitis in clinical practiceIncreased severity and morbidity of acute hepatitis in drug abusers with simultaneously acquired hepatitis B and hepatitis D virus infections.Chronic Delta Infection and Liver Biopsy Changes in Chronic Active Hepatitis BGARY C. KANEL, M.D., SUGANTHA GOVINDARAJAN, M.D., ROBERT L. PETERS, M.D. 1 April 1983Volume 98, Issue 4Page: 542-543KeywordsAntibodiesAntigensBiopsyHepatitis BHepatitis B surface antigenHepatitis D virusLiverSpecificityStaining ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1983 PDF downloadLoading ...