Hepatitis D Flashcards
1
Q
How does someone become infected with HDV
A
Only occurs in people already infected with HBV (actively replicating)
HDV attaches to HBsAg to survive and cannot survive with any other protein
2
Q
What is the co-infection rate of HDV and HBV?
A
10% co-infection rate
3
Q
What are the consequences of HDV infection?
A
HDV acts to suppress HBV meaning HDV is responsible for the liver damage in the co-infection
-means suppressing HBV with nucleoside analogues does not affect the severity or fibrosis progression
Co-infection leads to faster progression to fibrosis/HCC/liver failure-> increases severity of HBV
(Currently no known treatments for HDV)
