Current status of hepatitis delta

Margarita Papatheodoridi; George V Papatheodoridis

doi:10.1016/j.coph.2021.03.008

Current status of hepatitis delta

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2021 Jun:58:62-67. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2021.03.008. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Authors

Margarita Papatheodoridi¹, George V Papatheodoridis²

Affiliations

¹ University College of London, Institute of Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Campus, London, UK.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: gepapath@med.uoa.gr.

PMID: 33895531
DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2021.03.008

Abstract

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis and continues to represent a major health problem. The latest data show that the global prevalence is much higher than previously considered. Therefore, screening with the detection of anti-HDV antibodies is mandatory for all chronic HBV patients. In spite of the severity of liver disease, the only recommended treatment today is pegylated interferon-alpha, which has limited efficacy. Novel host-targeting molecules are now under investigation. The current phase 2 clinical trials include pegylated interferon-lambda, bulevirtide, lonafarnib, and REP-2139. This review focuses on the current status of epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of HDV infection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Coinfection*
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Hepatitis D* / diagnosis
Hepatitis D* / drug therapy
Hepatitis D* / epidemiology
Hepatitis Delta Virus
Humans