Natural Course and Treatment of Hepatitis D Virus Infection

• Main Authors: Ting-Hui Hsieh, Chun-Jen Liu, Ding-Shinn Chen, Pei-Jer Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2006-01-01
• Series: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
• Subjects: genotype; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis D virus; seroepidemiology; treatment
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664609601728

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a subviral satellite with hepatitis B virus (HBV) as its natural helper virus. After entry into hepatocytes, it utilizes host cellular enzymes to replicate by a double-rolling-circle mechanism. HDV is most often transmitted by contact with contaminated blood and body fluid, similar to HBV infection. Approximately 5% of the global HBV carriers are coinfected with HDV, leading to a total of 10-15 million HDV carriers worldwide. HDV infection can occur concurrently with HBV infection (coinfection) or in a patient with established HBV infection (superinfection). The pathogenesis of HDV remains controversial. A decline in the prevalence of both acute and chronic hepatitis D (CHD) has been observed worldwide. At present, therapy for chronic HDV infection is by the use of interferon-a. Compared to chronic hepatitis B or C, CHD treatment requires a higher dosage and a longer duration of treatment, and post-treatment relapses are common. In order to prevent the progression of CHD and its related morbidity and mortality, more effective treatments are needed.