[Chronic hepatitis B. Relationships between virus in the liver and immune response (author's transl)].

A combined histological examination with detection of virus antigens in liver tissue and blood and the corresponding antibodies in blood can give information on the following problems: Standardization of a hepatitis virus B infection, with diagnostic and prognostic information; determination of infectivity; effects of therapy can be monitored, possibly glimpses may be obtained into the mechanism of cancerization.