Alternative Names
Hepatitis D virus
Definition of Delta agent (Hepatitis D)
Delta agent is a type of virus called hepatitis D that causes symptoms only in people who also have a infection.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is only found in people who carry the hepatitis B virus. HDV may make a recent (acute) hepatitis B infection or an existing long-term (chronic) hepatitis B liver disease worse. It can even cause symptoms in people who carry hepatitis B virus but who never had symptoms.
Symptoms
Hepatitis D may make the symptoms of hepatitis B more severe.
Treatment
Many of the medicines used to treat hepatitis B are not helpful for treating hepatitis D. See .
Expectations (prognosis)
Persons with an acute HDV infection usually get better over 2 to 3 weeks. Liver enzyme levels return to normal within 16 weeks.
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 11/23/2010
