title: Natural course and treatment of hepatitis D virus infection.
abstract: 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-alpha. 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ting-Hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ding-Shinn
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei-Jer
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans