[Relapses and reinfections in viral hepatitis: an analysis of repeated admissions].

The causes of repeated admissions of 35 patients with viral hepatitides were unraveled on the basis of studies of the serum markers HAV, HBV, HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, IgM-anti-HBc, anti-HBc, IgM-anti-HAV, anti-HAV, and anti-D. Mixed viral infections were diagnosed in 14 persons: 3 persons had superinfection with HAV associated with chronic HBsAg carriership, 6 had superinfection with HDV and 5 manifested superinfection with HAHB viruses. Reactivation of chronic hepatitis was diagnosed in 5 patients. The measurement of the activity of alanine aminotransferase in blood serum diluted 1:10 and of IgM-anti-HBc titers was shown to be of high differential diagnostic importance in the identification of relapses and reinfections. The effects of superinfections with HAV and HDV are under discussion.