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Comparative Study
. 2006 Mar 22:101 Suppl 1:127-34.

[Update hepatitis D]

[Article in German]
Andreas Erhardt  1 , Christine Starke, Julia Loerke, Christian Giesecke, Tobias Heintges, Dieter Häussinger
Affiliations
  • PMID: 16802537
Comparative Study

[Update hepatitis D]

[Article in German]
Andreas Erhardt et al. Med Klin (Munich). .

Abstract

The relevance of chronic hepatitis delta results from its high morbidity. Prevalence of hepatitis D decreases in classic endemic areas of the Mediterranean Basin, but increases in Eastern European countries. Hepatitis D is mainly a disease of immigrants in Germany. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is an incomplete virus, which needs the hepatitis B surface protein (HBsAg) but not hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication for its propagation. In case of HBsAg detection a screening for HDV antibodies should be performed. Simultaneous HDV/HBV infection leading to spontaneous virus clearance in the majority of cases has to be differentiated from HDV superinfection with a high rate of chronification. Chronic hepatitis D is difficult to treat. Treatment regimens for hepatitis D are interferon-based so far. Pegylated interferons, a prolongation of treatment beyond 12 months, combination therapies with ribavirin and prenylation inhibitors are possibly new therapeutic options in chronic hepatitis C.

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