Hepatitis D

The causative agent is defective RNA virus delta (HDV), which is not capable of independent replication, it requires enzymatic equipment of HBV.

These are either:

• co-infection with HBV + HDV,
• superinfection of HDV in primarily infected by HBV (more dangerous).

It can be fulminant hepatitis, other times the development of liver cirrhosis.

Clinical picture

The incubation period is 2-7 weeks. Superinfection leads to deterioration of liver function - failure or faster liver cirrhosis. During co-infection, the course is usually better.

Diagnostics

Detection of specific antibodies against delta antigen is performed by ELISA.

Links

Related articles

• Viral hepatitis
• Hepatitis

Resources

• PASTOR, Jan. Langenbeck's medical web page [online]. [cit. 2010]. <http://langenbeck.webs.com>.

• BENEŠ, Jiří. Studijní materiály [online]. [cit. 2010]. <http://jirben.wz.cz>.

Literature

• HAVLÍK, Jiří, et al. Infektologie. 2. edition. Praha : Avicenum, 1990. pp. 393. ISBN 80-201-0062-8.

• LOBOVSKÁ, Alena. Infekční nemoci. 1. edition. Praha : Karolinum, 2001. pp. 263. ISBN 80-246-0116-8.