[Iatrogenic and environmentally induced diseases of the liver in old age: viral hepatitis in old age].

Elderly people rarely develop hepatitis A, because of their acquired immunity, but they are more exposed to hepatitis-B and -nonAnonB infections. The course of viral hepatitis is usually more severe and more prolonged, the mortality of fulminant hepatitis is higher, and the risk of developing chronic hepatitis B is increased. There exists an association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection, old age, and the incidence of hepatoma. Exposed elderly persons should be vaccinated against hepatitis B but it might be necessary to give them additional booster doses in order to achieve sufficient antibody production.