The significance of detailed hepatitis B virus serology in chronic liver diseases.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were studied with Sorin RIA kits in serum samples from 390 patients suffering from histologically confirmed chronic liver disease. On the basis of negative HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc tests, HBV infection was excluded in 235 of the cases. The diagnosis was fatty liver and/or alcoholic hepatitis in 52%, while chronic active hepatitis and/or liver cirrhosis only in 21.7%. Part or present HBV infection was proven in 155. In 53% of these cases the diagnosis was chronic active hepatitis and/or liver cirrhosis, whereas fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis occurred in 27.7%. Detailed HBV marker analysis was performed in 76 patients. Previous infection without replication (positive anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc and/or anti-HBe) was proven in 48 cases, 12 patients had active HBV infection (positive HBsAg, HBe, IgM anti-HBc), while in 16 cases HBV integration (positive HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBe) was proven. HBsAg-IgM complex seropositivity was shown in every case with active HBV replication. Because of therapeutic, prognostic and epidemiologic reasons, the significance of detailed HBV serology in chronic liver diseases is stressed.