Delta Hepatitis in Denver

The prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the mid-United States is not well defined. We tested 65 patients seen between 1983 and 1986 with HBV infection in Denver for evidence of coexisting HDV infection. Five patients had anti-delta (δ) antibody. The prevalence of HDV infection was higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B (4/37) than in patients with acute hepatitis B (1/28). The prevalence of HDV infection in male homosexuals (3/32) was similar to reported figures, but the incidence of δ-infection in intravenous drug users in Denver was usually low (1/16). In comparison to Los Angeles, New York, southern Italy, and Sweden, Denver appears to have a low incidence of HDV infection, which probably reflects its low prevalence in the drug-using population.