[Chronic hepatitis delta--the course and approaches to therapy]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) is a serious liver condition.
• The disease course of CHD can vary significantly among patients.
• Understanding disease progression is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the different clinical courses of chronic hepatitis delta.
• To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant alpha 2-interferon (reaferon) in treating CHD.
• To assess the impact of reaferon on patients with and without hepatic cirrhosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 94 patients with chronic hepatitis delta.
• Observation of disease progression over time, noting rates of cirrhosis development and remission.
• Administration of recombinant alpha 2-interferon (reaferon) to 43 patients as an adjunct therapy.
• Follow-up evaluation of treatment outcomes, differentiating between patients with and without hepatic cirrhosis.

Main Results:

• Slow disease progression over decades was the most common course for CHD.
• Rapid progression to hepatic cirrhosis (1-2 years) and long-term remission (>3 years) were rare.
• Recombinant alpha 2-interferon (reaferon) demonstrated clinical promise in managing CHD.
• Positive outcomes were observed in both patients with and without hepatic cirrhosis who received reaferon.

Conclusions:

• Chronic hepatitis delta exhibits diverse clinical trajectories, with slow progression being most prevalent.
• Recombinant alpha 2-interferon (reaferon) appears to be a promising therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis delta.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of reaferon in CHD management.