An update on the management of chronic hepatitis D

Pir Ahmad Shah; Saad Choudhry; Karen J Campoverde Reyes; Daryl T Y Lau

doi:10.1093/gastro/goz052

An update on the management of chronic hepatitis D

Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019 Oct 19;7(6):396-402. doi: 10.1093/gastro/goz052. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Authors

Pir Ahmad Shah¹, Saad Choudhry¹, Karen J Campoverde Reyes^{1

2}, Daryl T Y Lau¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is associated with severe liver-related morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of HDV is rising especially among people who abuse drugs and immigrants from endemic areas. Reliable diagnostic assays with enhanced sensitivity and specificity are essential for screening at-risk populations. Until recently, interferon has been the only treatment for hepatitis D. Its efficacy is, however, limited and it is associated with significant side effects. A number of novel antiviral agents that target various stages of the HDV life cycle show promising results. They are currently in different phases of clinical development. This review focuses on the changing epidemiology, novel therapeutic agents, and updated management of chronic hepatitis delta.

Keywords: HDV diagnostics; HDV therapy; chronic hepatitis D; interferon; lonafarnib; myrcludex B.

Publication types

Review