obsolete Deltavirus infectious disease

Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV): A Defective but Severe Liver Infection

The Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is a rare and severe form of viral hepatitis that affects the liver. It is caused by the HDV, which is a defective virus that requires the presence of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to complete its life cycle.

Key Characteristics:

• Defective but Severe: Despite being a "defective" virus, HDV can cause severe liver disease [3][5].
• Requires HBV for Infection: HDV requires the presence of HBV to enter hepatocytes and cause infection [9][6].
• Most Severe Form of Viral Hepatitis: HDV is considered the most severe form of viral hepatitis, increasing the risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer, mortality, and the necessity for liver transplantation compared to HBV alone [2].

Causes and Symptoms:

• Liver Infection: HDV causes a liver infection that can lead to chronic liver disease and liver damage.
• Poorly Known Cause: HDV infection is a poorly known cause of chronic liver disease, making it challenging to mount an effective public health response [8].
• Symptoms: The symptoms of HDV infection are similar to those of HBV, including fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and jaundice.

Prevention and Treatment:

• No Vaccine Available: There is no vaccine available for HDV.
• Treatment Challenges: Treating HDV infection can be challenging due to its severe nature and the fact that it requires the presence of HBV to cause infection.
• Liver Transplantation: In severe cases, liver transplantation may be necessary to treat HDV infection.

References:

[1] GA Niro · 2021 · Cited by 24 — The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective virus that survives in the host by enveloping itself with the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) ...

[2] by B Pearlman · 2023 · Cited by 11 — HDV is the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Compared to HBV alone, HDV increases the risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer, mortality, and the necessity for ...

[3] Hepatitis delta, also known as hepatitis D or HDV, is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis delta virus that results in the most severe form of viral ...

[4] Hepatitis D is a type of viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). HDV is one of five known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. HDV is ...

[5] by MR Brunetto · 2023 · Cited by 90 — Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective virus that requires the hepatitis B virus to complete its life cycle and cause liver damage in humans.

[6] by T Asselah · 2020 · Cited by

Initial Signs and Symptoms

The initial signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis D, an obsolete deltavirus infectious disease, are nonspecific and include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting

These symptoms can be similar to those experienced in other viral infections. [1]

Chronic Infection

In cases of chronic infection, prolonged inflammation and necrosis are common, leading to severe liver disease. This is often associated with a superinfection with HDV (Hepatitis D Virus) following an initial HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) infection. [2]

Common Symptoms

Some common symptoms of hepatitis D include:

• Stomach upset
• Pain in the belly
• Throwing up
• Fatigue
• Not feeling hungry
• Joint pain
• Dark urine
• Light-colored stool

These symptoms can be severe and may indicate a more serious infection. [3]

Severe Manifestations

Fulminant hepatitis and acute liver failure are severe manifestations of HBV/HDV coinfection, which are more common than in HBV mono-infection. This highlights the importance of prompt medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen over time. [4]

Acute Liver Failure

Acute infection can cause acute liver failure, while persistent infection typically causes a severe form of chronic hepatitis associated with rapid progression to cirrhosis. [5]

Jaundice and Other Symptoms

More than 65% of patients develop jaundice (yellow staining of mucous membranes and skin). Simultaneous infection with HBV and HDV can lead to more severe symptoms, including:

• Jaundice
• Clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Changes in personality
• Disturbances in sleep

These symptoms can be indicative of a more serious infection. [6]

Inflammation of the Liver

Hepatitis D is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), which requires HBV for its replication. Despite being a "defective" virus, HDV can cause severe liver disease. [7][8]

Chronic Infection and Liver Disease

Chronic HDV infection causes more severe liver disease than chronic HBV infection alone. This highlights the importance of prompt medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen over time. [9]

References:

[1] C Pan (2023) - Initial signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis D [2] 1994 - Chronic infection and superinfection with HDV [3] Nov 14, 2022 - Common symptoms of hepatitis D [4] Mar 4, 2024 - Fulminant hepatitis and acute liver failure in HBV/HDV coinfection [5] by MR Brunetto (2023) - Acute infection and chronic hepatitis [6] More than 65% of patients develop jaundice [7] Hepatitis D is an inflammation of the liver caused by HDV [8] HDV requires HBV for its replication [9] Chronic HDV infection causes more severe liver disease

Based on the provided context, it appears that you are looking for information on diagnostic tests for Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV), a defective virus that requires HBV to complete its replication.

According to the search results, there are several diagnostic tests mentioned:

• Serological test: A serological test to detect HDV IgG or HDV IgM or Total antibody (Anti-HD) is recommended in screening for HDV [3].
• Hepatitis delta antibody (anti-HDV total) test: This test is required for a hepatitis delta diagnosis, along with the hepatitis delta RNA (HDV RNA) test [4].
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): ELISA for anti-HDV is the first-line screening test for hepatitis D in the clinical setting [8].

Additionally, it's mentioned that testing should include hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen [1] and [5]. This suggests that a comprehensive approach to diagnosis involves testing for both HDV and HBV.

It's also worth noting that the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) has published guidelines on the testing, diagnosis, and management of hepatitis delta virus, which may provide more detailed information on diagnostic tests [12].

In terms of obsolete Deltavirus infectious disease, it seems that Hepatitis Delta Virus is still a significant burden of liver disease worldwide, affecting 48 to 72 million people globally [10]. However, the exact relevance of this information to your question is unclear.

If you have any further questions or would like more specific information on diagnostic tests for HDV, please let me know!

Current Treatment Options for Chronic Hepatitis Delta (CHD)

There are limited treatment options available for chronic hepatitis delta (CHD), a viral infection caused by the HDV virus. According to recent studies, the generally recommended treatment for HDV infection is Pegylated-interferon alpha, which should last for at least 48 weeks [8]. However, this treatment option has been reported to have mild efficacy and poor tolerability [7].

Emerging Treatment Options

Newer treatment options are being developed to address the limitations of current therapies. Bulevirtide, a liver-targeting antiviral agent, has shown promise in treating CHD. Studies have demonstrated that bulevirtide can reduce HDV RNA and ALT levels after 48 weeks of treatment [9]. Additionally, bulevirtide has been accepted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium to treat chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in adults [5].

Future Directions

Promising new treatment options in development include entry inhibitors, prenylation inhibitors, and HBsAg release inhibitors. These emerging therapies aim to improve upon current treatments and provide more effective management of CHD [4]. Further research is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety profiles of these novel agents.

References: [7] - Current treatment of chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) is Pegylated-interferon for 48 weeks with mild efficacy and poor tolerability. [8] - Jul 20, 2023 — Treatment. Pegylated interferon alpha is the generally recommended treatment for hepatitis D virus infection. Treatment should last for at least ... [9] - by H Wedemeyer · 2023 · Cited by 104 — After 48 weeks of bulevirtide treatment, HDV RNA and ALT levels were reduced in patients with chronic hepatitis D. [4] - by T Asselah · 2020 · Cited by 53 — Promising new treatment options in development include mainly entry inhibitors, prenylation inhibitors and HBsAg release inhibitors.

Based on the provided context, it appears that you are looking for information on the differential diagnosis of a specific infectious disease caused by the Delta virus (HDV). Here's what I found:

Differential Diagnoses

The differential diagnoses for HDV infection include:

• Alcoholic Hepatitis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Budd-Chiari Syndrome
• Cholangitis
• Acute Cholecystitis
• Hepatitis A

These conditions can present with similar symptoms to HDV infection, such as liver inflammation and damage. However, the presence of specific antibodies or viral markers can help differentiate between these conditions.

HDV Infection

HDV is a defective RNA virus that requires the presence of active HBV infection (acute HBV or HBsAg carrier state) to infect the liver [3]. The main testing method for HDV infection is antibody detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or other serological tests [5].

Chronic HDV Infection

Chronic HDV infection causes more severe liver disease than chronic HBV monoinfection, accelerates liver fibrosis, and increases the risk of liver cancer [2][8]. This suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of HDV infection are crucial to prevent long-term complications.

Diagnostic Tests

HDV infection is diagnosed by high levels of anti-HDV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), and confirmed by detection of HDV RNA [7]. These tests can help differentiate between HDV infection and other liver diseases.

In summary, the differential diagnosis for obsolete Deltavirus infectious disease includes a range of conditions that can present with similar symptoms. However, specific diagnostic tests can help identify HDV infection and distinguish it from other liver diseases.

References:

[1] Oct 20, 2021 — Differential Diagnoses · Alcoholic Hepatitis · Autoimmune Hepatitis · Budd-Chiari Syndrome · Cholangitis · Acute Cholecystitis · Hepatitis A. [2] by C Pan · 2023 · Cited by 18 — Chronic HDV infection causes more severe liver disease than chronic HBV monoinfection [4, 5], accelerates liver fibrosis [5, 6], increases ... [3] Hepatitis D. Delta virus is a defective RNA virus that requires the presence of active HBV infection (acute HBV or HBsAg carrier state) to infect the liver. [4] Apr 24, 2024 — Hepatitis D is a liver infection caused by HDV. HDV is known as a "satellite virus" because it can only infect people who are also infected by the hepatitis B ... [5] HDV Diagnostic Tests​​ Currently, the main testing method for HDV infection is antibody detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or ... [6] Apr 30, 2021 — Hepatitis D is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis delta virus (