Hepatitis D overview
|
Hepatitis D |
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Hepatitis D overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatitis D overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Hepatitis D is a disease caused by a small circular RNA virus (Hepatitis delta virus or hepatitis D virus, HDV). HDV is considered to be a subviral satellite because it can propagate only in the presence of another virus, the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Transmission of HDV can occur either via simultaneous infection with HBV (coinfection) or via infection of an individual previously infected with HBV (superinfection). [2] Both superinfection and coinfection with HDV results in more severe complications compared to infection with HBV alone. These complications include a greater likelihood of experiencing liver failure in acute infections and a greater likelihood of developing liver cancer in chronic infections. In combination with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis D has the highest mortality rate of all the hepatitis infections of 20%.
Historical Perspective
The hepatitis D virus was first reported in mid-1977 by an italian researcher, Mario Rizzetto. [1]
References
- ↑ Manuale di Gastroenterologia Unigastro pag. 260