Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2010; 16(5): 554-562
Published online Feb 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i5.554
Hepatitis D: Scenario in the Asia-Pacific region
Zaigham Abbas, Wasim Jafri, Sajjad Raza
Zaigham Abbas, Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
Wasim Jafri, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
Sajjad Raza, Dow Medical College, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Author contributions: Abbas Z conceived the topic; all authors did an independent search which was matched and divided different segments of the Asia-Pacific region for review; Abbas Z wrote the final draft; Jafri W and Raza S reviewed the final draft.
Correspondence to: Zaigham Abbas, FCPS, FRCP, Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan. drzabbas@gmail.com
Telephone: +92-21-35857172 Fax: +92-21-99215469
Received: June 24, 2009
Revised: September 13, 2009
Accepted: September 20, 2009
Published online: February 7, 2010
Abstract

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is present worldwide and affects all age groups. Around 18 million people are estimated to be infected with HDV. An important trend in HDV infection is global decline. HDV prevalence has decreased significantly in Europe since the 1970s and 1980s when it was first reported. The Asia-Pacific region now seems to be where HDV is a major health concern. There is a lack of available data from most of the countries from this region; hence, the true status of HDV cannot be determined. In South Asia, most of the countries have conditions that are favorable for the spread of hepatitis B and other related infections. Countries like Pakistan and Iran have shown an increase in HDV prevalence over a period of time. Other countries and region like China, Turkey, Australia, Japan, India and Taiwan, some of which had very high HDV prevalence in the past, have shown a decline in the incidence, but high prevalence persists in some. Intravenous drug abusers, homosexual men and women, prostitutes, and people on hemodialysis are the groups with very high HDV prevalence.

Keywords: Hepatitis D; Asia-Pacific region; Prevalence; Epidemiology