Immunologic abnormalities in patients with chronic delta infection.

Data reported in this paper emphasize the existence of close relationships between hepatitis delta patients and subjects affected by other viral diseases, first of all AIDS and related conditions. Some immunologic abnormalities characterizing initial stages of HIV infection (reduced CD4/CD8 ratio, based on increased CD8+ cells; B-cell polyclonal activation with the presence of circulating immune complexes) were found, in fact, also in delta patients. No statistically significant difference was observed by comparing delta vs no delta subjects.