DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Hepatologic Disease

Hepatitis D

HIGH SEVERITY

Also known as delta hepatitis, caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV) which requires hepatitis B virus to replicate. The most severe form of viral hepatitis with rapid progression to cirrhosis. Occurs as coinfection (with HBV) or superinfection (in chronic HBV).

Global Affected

15.0M

Countries

147

Symptoms

Fatigue
Nausea/vomiting
Loss of appetite
Jaundice
Dark urine
Clay-colored stool
Abdominal pain
Joint pain
Rapid progression (superinfection)

Treatment Options

Pegylated interferon-alpha
Bulevirtide (where approved)
Treatment of HBV
Liver transplant (end-stage)
Clinical trials
Supportive care

Risk Factors

1Hepatitis B infection (required)
2IV drug use
3Multiple sexual partners
4Men who have sex with men
5Healthcare workers
6Hemodialysis
7High prevalence region
8Household contact with HBV/HDV

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1HDV antibody test (anti-HDV)
  • 2HDV RNA PCR
  • 3HBsAg testing (must be present)
  • 4Liver function tests
  • 5Liver biopsy
  • 6FibroScan
  • 7Genotyping

Prognosis

Poor without treatment. Superinfection has 70-80% chronicity vs 5% for coinfection. Rapid progression to cirrhosis within 5-10 years in 70% of superinfections. Increased liver cancer risk.

Prevention

  • Hepatitis B vaccination
  • Safe injection practices
  • Safe sex
  • Screening blood products
  • Infection control
  • Needle exchange programs

Research Status

No specific treatment for HDV. Interferon-alpha (pegylated) only approved therapy with limited success rate. Bulevirtide (entry inhibitor) recently approved in Europe. Hepatitis B vaccination prevents HDV. Liver transplant for end-stage disease.

Affected Countries

ItalyRomaniaBulgariaMDRussiaUkraineMNPakistanIndiaIranIraqTurkeyEgyptTunisiaAlgeriaMoroccoLibyaSudanSSCFTDNEMaliBFGNSLLRCIGhanaTGBJNigeriaCMGQGACGDR CongoAOZambiaZimbabweMozambiqueMalawiMGTanzaniaKenyaUgandaRWBIEthiopiaSODJERChinaVietnamLAKHMMThailandMalaysiaIndonesiaPhilippinesPGSBVUFJKITVNRPWMHFMWSTOCKNUWFASGUMPPRVIUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceSpainJapanBrazilMexicoSwedenNorwayFinlandNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkPolandCzech RepublicHungaryCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaTaiwanSingaporeHong KongSouth AfricaSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitBHOmanJordanLebanonSyriaBangladeshLKUzbekistanKazakhstanKGTJTMAzerbaijanAMGEBelarusALBAMKMESerbiaXK

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hdv
  • https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-d
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.