title: Hepatitis D Virus: A Call to Screening.
abstract: Hepatitis D virus causes an aggressive viral hepatitis with a virulent course of progression to cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation. It relies on hepatitis B coinfection for its pathogenesis and propagation. Hepatitis D virus had become the forgotten virus, with reduced public awareness, medical interest, and research support. Recently, there has been a resurgence of awareness and interest in hepatitis D, with improvements in diagnostic testing and establishment of international collaborative efforts to improve therapy. This article provides a framework to understand the impetus for increased screening as well as to identify key issues toward which collaborative efforts can be directed.
authors.affiliation: Dr Ahn is an associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Dr Gish is a clinical professor of medicine (consultant) at Stanford Hospital and Medical Center in Stanford, California; clinical professor of medicine (adjunct) at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; vice chair of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable in San Francisco, California; medical director of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania; and principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Dr Ahn is an associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Dr Gish is a clinical professor of medicine (consultant) at Stanford Hospital and Medical Center in Stanford, California; clinical professor of medicine (adjunct) at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; vice chair of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable in San Francisco, California; medical director of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania; and principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gish
keywords: Hepatitis delta; cirrhosis; interferon; pegylated interferon; prenylation inhibitors