Who is at highest risk for Hepatitis D ?
Risk factors include:
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus carriers are at risk for infection with HDV 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 Receiving many blood transfusions People exposed to unscreened blood or blood products Haemophiliacs
Since HDV absolutely 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 indeed replicates in a helper-independent manner, but virus particles are not released
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. </s>