Hepatitis D risk factors
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2] Jolanta Marszalek, M.D. [3]
Overview
Overview
Common risk factors in the development of hepatitis D include intravenous drug use, sexual intercourse with infected individuals, hemodialysis, and occupational exposure to infected individuals and blood products [1][2].
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Since HDV requires the support of hepatitis B virus for its own replication, inoculation with HDV in the absence of HBV will not cause hepatitis D. Alone, the viral genome replicates in a helper-independent manner, but the viral particles do not exit the cell.[1][2]
When in the presence of hepatitis B virus, risk factors for hepatitis D include:
- Using intravenous (IV) or injection drugs
- Being infected while pregnant (the mother can pass the virus to the baby)
- Carrying the hepatitis B virus
- Men having sexual intercourse with other men
- Sexual intercourse with HDV infected persons
- Receiving many blood transfusions
- People exposed to unscreened blood or blood products
- Haemophiliacs
- Hemodialysis patients
- Health care and public safety workers
- Individuals who are not infected with HBV, and have not been immunized against HBV, are at risk of infection with HBV with simultaneous or subsequent infection with HDV.
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