title: [The return of the hepatitis delta virus].
abstract: - There are several regions worldwide with a high prevalence of infection with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.- Chronic HDV infection is occurring with increasing frequency due to increased immigration.- HDV transmission can take place through the same routes as HBV by simultaneous infection with both viruses (co-infection) or infection of an HBV carrier with HDV (superinfection).- Delta hepatitis is considered as the most severe form of viral hepatitis with a high risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.- Chronic delta hepatitis is exclusively observed in patients who are HBV carriers.- Pegylated interferon is currently the only registered therapy for patients with delta hepatitis, but leads to a persistent virological response in only a minority of them, and rarely leads to a complete cure.- New antivirals, such as viral entry blockers, prenylation inhibitors and anti-sense oligonucleotides are promising and currently being investigated in phase 2 trials.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, afd. Maag-, Darm- en Leverziekten, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zoutendijk
authors.forename: P J F
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Man
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State; D018450:Disease Progression; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D015163:Superinfection
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents