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: Mario Rizzetto
• Journal: Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver (Liver Int) Vol. 33 Suppl 1 Pg. 195-7 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1478-3231 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23286865 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Biomarkers
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• RNA, Viral
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• peginterferon alfa-2b
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (drug effects, genetics, immunology)
• Hepatitis D, Chronic (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Hepatitis Delta Virus (drug effects, genetics)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Polyethylene Glycols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Recombinant Proteins (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Viral Load