Arshi Yao
Hepatitis D virus is a defective RNA virus that requires hepatitis B virus for its replication and survival. Chronic hepatitis D is one of the most severe forms of viral hepatitis, characterized by rapid progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. While global awareness of hepatitis B has led to significant advances in prevention and treatment, HDV infection remains a major global health challenge, with its clinical management remaining complex and limited by a lack of effective antiviral treatments. This narrative review provides an overview of chronic hepatitis D virus infection, its pathogenesis, clinical implications, and current treatment strategies, as well as emerging therapeutic options. Hepatitis D virus is unique in that it cannot infect the liver independently. It relies on hepatitis B virus for the production of its surface antigen, which is essential for the viral assembly and entry into hepatocytes.
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