{"id":10051,"date":"2025-07-14T16:55:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T13:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=10051"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:53:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:53:38","slug":"who-needs-analysis-and-what-to-show-for-its-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/who-needs-analysis-and-what-to-show-for-its-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"Hepatitis D: what is it, who needs the test and what are the indications for it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hepatitis D is an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis D Virus (HDV). This virus is unique in that it cannot multiply without the simultaneous presence of the hepatitis B virus. Because of this, HDV infection always develops together with hepatitis B, complicating the course of the disease and increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver failure.<\/p>\n

Hepatitis D is particularly dangerous for people with chronic hepatitis B, as HDV often causes rapid deterioration in their condition. Timely diagnosis allows you to avoid serious complications and correctly adjust the treatment.<\/p>\n

You can find out more about diagnostic methods on the laboratory website:
https:\/\/medilab.km.ua<\/a><\/p>\n

To take a PCR test for hepatitis D or get a consultation, follow the link:
https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/analizy<\/a><\/p>\n

How is hepatitis D transmitted?<\/h2>\n

Hepatitis D virus is transmitted mainly through blood - during medical procedures, blood transfusions, injections with unsterile instruments. Less commonly, infection is possible through sexual contact or from mother to child during childbirth.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ways of transmission of hepatitis D<\/th>\nExplanation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Parenteral (through blood)<\/td>\nBlood transfusions, injections, medical procedures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vertical (from mother to child)<\/td>\nDuring childbirth or pregnancy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sexual path<\/td>\nPossible but less common mode of transmission<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Forms of infection and clinical features<\/h2>\n

Hepatitis D<\/a> can occur in two main clinical forms:<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of infection<\/th>\nWhat is this?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Coinfection<\/td>\nSimultaneous infection with hepatitis B and D viruses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Superinfection<\/td>\nHDV infection on the background of pre-existing chronic hepatitis B<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Coinfection<\/strong> often leads to severe acute hepatitis with a high risk of developing acute liver failure.
Superinfection<\/strong> threatens patients with chronic hepatitis B and often accelerates the development of cirrhosis.<\/p>\n

What symptoms may indicate an infection?<\/h2>\n

Hepatitis D can remain asymptomatic for a long time. But over time, it manifests itself with the following signs:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    enlarged liver and spleen<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    rapid fatigue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    nausea, decreased appetite<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    feeling of heaviness or pain in the right hypochondrium<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    joint and muscle pain<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    weight loss<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    jaundice<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    skin rashes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    When should you get tested for hepatitis D?<\/h2>\n
    \n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Indications for PCR analysis<\/th>\nWho is recommended?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Diagnosis by symptoms<\/td>\nPatients with hepatitis symptoms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    In patients with chronic hepatitis B<\/td>\nTo rule out HDV superinfection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Confirmation of immunological test results<\/td>\nIf antibodies to HDV are detected<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Monitoring the course of the disease<\/td>\nTo assess viral load<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Evaluation of treatment effectiveness<\/td>\nAfter a course of therapy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Why is it important to undergo PCR diagnostics?<\/h2>\n

    Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive laboratory diagnostic method that can detect viral RNA as early as 14 days after infection.<\/p>\n

    Advantages of PCR analysis:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

      detection of the virus at an early stage<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      high sensitivity (93\u201395%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      accuracy of results<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      ability to control viral load<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What do the results of the PCR analysis mean?<\/h2>\n
      \n
      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Result<\/th>\nWhat does it mean?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Positive<\/td>\nConfirmation of disease, active viral replication<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Negative<\/td>\nAbsence of infection, carriage without virus replication, or recovery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
      \n
      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Why are additional tests prescribed?<\/h2>\n

      Along with PCR, the doctor may prescribe:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        Determination of specific antibodies to HDV<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Detection of immunoglobulins G and M to assess the stage of the disease<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        This allows for a comprehensive assessment of the course of the disease, determining the active phase of the infection or the stage of recovery.<\/p>\n

        Hepatitis D is a dangerous disease that always accompanies hepatitis B and can significantly complicate its course. Timely PCR diagnostics allows you to detect the infection at an early stage, determine the activity of the virus and monitor treatment.<\/p>\n

        Contact the laboratory Medilab Plus<\/strong> \u2014 we guarantee accurate results and an individual approach to each patient.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Hepatitis D is an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis D Virus (HDV). This virus is unique in that it is unable to<\/p>","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":10052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}