[Seroprevalence of delta infection in a group of patients with HBsAg positive in the city of Maracaibo]. / Seroprevalencia de la infección por virus delta en un grupo de pacientes AgsHB positivo de la ciudad de Maracaibo.

In order to establish a preliminary information about the penetration of delta infection in our population, 40 HBsAg positive sera were tested for antidelta. 20 were asymptomatic patients and 20 were symptomatics. In the group of asymptomatic patients 3 belong to a high risk population: 1 homosexual, 1 dialysis patient, 1 nurse of dialysis unit. None of the patients of this group were positive for antidelta. In the group of symptomatics one was positive for antidelta. It's represents a seroprevalence of 5%. This patient was an indian who lives in the city but was born in Perijá where severe epidemics have been reported. These results support that the infection seems to be restricted to this indigenous group but the spread must be considered because the patient was living in the city. In addition, the use of antidelta as the unique serologic marker should undervalue the real prevalence of infection in the cases of acute hepatitis, which represent the majority of symptomatics patients. In consequence the paper of delta agent must be considered in the genesis of hepatitis in our population as well as its further epidemiologic course.

[Recurrent benign familial intrahepatic cholestasis]. / Colestasis intrahepática benigna familiar recurrente.

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis is a disorder described 3 decades ago. The literature describes at least 60 cases. This syndrome is characterized by attacks of jaundice with obstructive features recurring over a number of years. Though the etiology remains, obscure the coincidence in members of a family or brothers suggests that this may be a constitutional form of jaundice. We describe the case of a young man who presented two episodes of obstructive jaundice. The serologic tests were negative for hepatitis and the biopsy revealed a severe intrahepatic cholestasis without histologic inflammatory changes and preserved lobulillar architecture. Inquest of the family were negative, but parents were possibly related, this factor may be important if a genetic defect is implicated. We conclude that from the clinical biochemical and histological findings this case of jaundice is due to intermittent intrahepatic cholestasis. The most common causes of intrahepatic cholestasis--viral hepatitis and certain drugs--; can be ruled out in this patient. Finally we have to suspect this syndrome, even though very rare, when we have a patient as we described.