hepatitis delta
Definition
Noun: A severe form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). This virus is defective and can only infect individuals who are also infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis delta is considered one of the most severe forms of viral hepatitis due to its potential to cause rapid progression to serious liver disease.
Usage Examples
- Co-infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis delta can lead to acute liver failure.
- The patient's chronic hepatitis B was complicated by a superinfection of hepatitis delta.
- Research is focused on developing treatments specifically for hepatitis delta.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, virological, and public health contexts. It is often discussed in relation to modes of transmission (similar to HBV, through blood and bodily fluids), epidemiology, and its impact on liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).
- "Delta agent": An older, synonymous term for the hepatitis delta virus itself.
- The liver damage was attributed to the delta agent.
Variants and Related Words
- Hepatitis D: A fully synonymous term for hepatitis delta.
- HDV: The standard acronym for Hepatitis Delta Virus.
- Delta hepatitis: An alternative word order with the same meaning.
Synonyms
- Hepatitis D
- Delta hepatitis
Related Phrases
- Co-infection: When hepatitis B and hepatitis delta viruses are acquired simultaneously.
- Superinfection: When a person with existing chronic hepatitis B acquires a new hepatitis delta infection.
Noun
-
a severe form of hepatitis
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