Research advances in epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis D virus infection / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis D virus (HDV) co-infection can accelerate the progression of liver diseases, but due to the limitations of the detection methods for HDV RNA, the epidemiology of HDV remains unclear. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathogenesis of HBV/HDV co-infection caused by HDV and related treatment methods. By reviewing the epidemiological features of HDV, HDV-specific immunity, genotype, and pathogenesis in China and other countries and summarizing HDV detection methods and treatment methods, this article shows that current detection methods for HDV infection have low sensitivity and specificity, with a lack of standardized detection methods. Exploration of new HDV detection methods will help to develop new and effective anti-HDV drugs, which has great significance in improving the outcome of HDV infection.