HEPATITIS D IN HEMODIALYSIS SETTING: A SHORT REVIEW

Abstract

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in hemodialysis (HD) patients has remained as a serious worldwide problem for health care system for many years. High probability of HDV/HBV transmission in HD patients due to chronic transfusion, high mortality and morbidity rate of hepatitis D, diagnostic problems of HDV in HD patients, irreversible complications of HDV infection and uncertainly difficult and controversial treatments have made HDV infection a major concern in HD patients. Considering that there is no efficient treatment for HDV infection, prevention and early detection seems to be the best solution for limiting the rate of transmission of HDV. A short review of the literature was made in order to guide for control of this important infection in HD patients.