The Lancet - Hepatitis delta virus

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http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2961931-9/ab\

stract?elsca1=TL-010711 & elsca2=email & elsca3=segment

The Lancet, Volume 378, Issue 9785, Pages 73 - 85, 2 July 2011

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61931-9Cite or Link Using DOI

Published Online: 20 April 2011

Hepatitis delta virus

A MBBCh a, Heiner Wedemeyer MD c, Dr M on MD b

Summary

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a small, defective RNA virus that can infect only

individuals who have hepatitis B virus (HBV); worldwide more than 15 million

people are co-infected. There are eight reported genotypes of HDV with

unexplained variations in their geographical distribution and pathogenicity. The

hepatitis D virion is composed of a coat of HBV envelope proteins surrounding

the nucleocapsid, which consists of a single-stranded, circular RNA genome

complexed with delta antigen, the viral protein. HDV is clinically important

because although it suppresses HBV replication, it causes severe liver disease

with rapid progression to cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation. The range of

clinical presentation is wide, varying from mild disease to fulminant liver

failure. The prevalence of HDV is declining in some endemic areas but increasing

in northern and central Europe because of immigration. Treatment of HDV is with

pegylated interferon alfa; however, response rates are poor. Increased

understanding of the molecular virology of HDV will identify novel therapeutic

targets for this most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis.

[Guest guest]

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2961931-9/ab\

stract?elsca1=TL-010711 & elsca2=email & elsca3=segment

The Lancet, Volume 378, Issue 9785, Pages 73 - 85, 2 July 2011

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61931-9Cite or Link Using DOI

Published Online: 20 April 2011

Hepatitis delta virus

A MBBCh a, Heiner Wedemeyer MD c, Dr M on MD b

Summary

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a small, defective RNA virus that can infect only

individuals who have hepatitis B virus (HBV); worldwide more than 15 million

people are co-infected. There are eight reported genotypes of HDV with

unexplained variations in their geographical distribution and pathogenicity. The

hepatitis D virion is composed of a coat of HBV envelope proteins surrounding

the nucleocapsid, which consists of a single-stranded, circular RNA genome

complexed with delta antigen, the viral protein. HDV is clinically important

because although it suppresses HBV replication, it causes severe liver disease

with rapid progression to cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation. The range of

clinical presentation is wide, varying from mild disease to fulminant liver

failure. The prevalence of HDV is declining in some endemic areas but increasing

in northern and central Europe because of immigration. Treatment of HDV is with

pegylated interferon alfa; however, response rates are poor. Increased

understanding of the molecular virology of HDV will identify novel therapeutic

targets for this most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis.