Significance of detailed Hepatitis B virus marker studies in chronic liver diseases

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were studied by Sorin RIA kits in the sera of 390 patients suffered from histologically confirmed chronic liver disease. On the base of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc seronegativity the HBV infection was excluded in 235 cases. In most HBV negative cases the diagnosis was fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis (52%), while chronic active hepatitis and/or liver cirrhosis occurred only in 21.7% of patients. Past or present HBV infection was proved in 155 patients. The diagnosis of 52.9% of cases in this group was chronic active hepatitis and/or liver cirrhosis, while fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis occurred in 27.7%. The detailed HBV marker analysis was performed in 76 patients. Previous infection without replication (anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc and/or anti-HBe positivity) was proved in 48 cases, 12 patients have active HBV infection (HBsAg, HBe, IgM anti--HBc, positivity), while in 16 cases integrated HBV infection (HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBe positivity) was proved. The HBsAg--IgM complex seropositivity was detected in every case with active HBV replication. Because of therapeutic, prognostic and epidemiologic significances the detailed HBV serology in chronic liver diseases is stressed.