[The detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in the blood serum of children with chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis].

The presence of HBV DNA in the blood serum of 50 children with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis (36 with chronic hepatitis B, 14 with chronic hepatitis delta) was determined by molecular hybridization method. No significant differences were observed between the frequency of HBV DNA detection and clinicomorphological type of chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis. In chronic HBV infection, HBV DNA was shown to be detected more frequently than in chronic hepatitis delta. A correlation was confirmed between the frequency of HBV DNA detection and demonstration of HBeAg in the blood. With the increase in the duration of the disease and age of the patients the HBV DNA detection rate was found to diminish.