A new review published on JAMA Network discusses the magnitude of the current hepatitis D virus (HDV) epidemic and its implications for public health.
HDV is a small ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that is estimated to affect 12-72 million people worldwide. As compared to HBV or HCV, HDV is associated with a more rapid rate of development of cirrhosis of the liver and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
HDV is the smallest virus known to cause human disease, consisting of a single RNA strand. HDV RNA encodes only one protein, the HDV antigen (HDAg), which forms a complex with the RNA that is subsequently encapsulated by HBV surface antigens (HBsAg).
