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Of 368 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected intravenous drug users, 144 (39%) were positive for antibody to hepatitis D virus (anti-HDV). Anti-HDV-positive HBV carriers had a lower rate of positivity for HBV DNA than did anti-HDV-negative carriers (52 versus 73%, respectively). From 1986 to 1997, the average rate of decrease in the prevalence of HDV infection in this population was 4.7%/year.
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