title: Current management of delta hepatitis.
abstract: Interferon is the only therapy for chronic hepatitis D. Nucleos(t)ides are not effective against the helper hepatitis B virus. The current therapeutic recommendation is a weekly dose of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α, for 12-18 months. Serum HDV-RNA only becomes undetectable after 6 months of therapy in about a quarter of the patients. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) may relapse in patients if they remain HBsAg positive. Although the end-point of therapy is the clearance of the HBsAg, this is seldom achieved. Current management of HDV patients is based on standard practices which should be pragmatic and individualized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. mrizzetto@molinette.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzetto
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a