Dr. Wu's Liver diseases
for professionals (medical students and residents)
( Last updated Apr. 12, 2004)
Viral hepatitis D
For consumers:
(Key words: HDV, hepatitis D virus, hepatitis D)
For professionals:
RNA virus, 35 ~ 37 nm.
Defective virus, a virus-like particle consisting of a coat of
HBsAg and a unique internal antigen, the delta antigen.
Require coinfection with HBV for viral replication.
Discovered in 1977 by Rizetto, in nuclei of hepatocytes from patients with chronic HBV infection, and originally was thought to be HBcAg.
Infection: 1) co-infection 2) superinfection
Coinfection: concurrent infection of HBV and HDV at the same time.
Superinfection: HDV infection occurs in persons with chronic HBV infection.
Concurrent infection in Taiwan:
- anti-HDV (+):
- in 3% of asymptomatic HBV carriers.
- in 20% of chronic active hepatitis B.
- in 50% of HBsAg (+) female prostitutes.
- In 88% of HBsAg (+) IVDUs.
The most fulminant cases occur in superinfections rather than co-infections.
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(TMN) Since June 09, 2002
(Dr. Wu's Liver D) Since Feb. 04, 1998
(Olddoc)Since Jan. 24, 2003
(TMN) Since Jan. 24, 2003
(PBL) Since Mar. 11, 2003
(By Jau-Shin Wu, M.D.;Posted Sep. 1996; Revised April 08, 2004 )
