[Classification and infectiousness of chronic hepatitis B, defined by the Dane particle in the blood and virus components in the liver].

55 HBAg seropositive patients with chronic hepatitis B selected from a total of 217 liver biopsies were studied for the presence of HBcAg and HBsAg in the liver tissue and of Dane particles in blood by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Among 27 patients with non-aggressive chronic inflammation the following constellations were found: a) 19 patients (13 with nonspecific reactive hepatitis, 6 with chronic persistent hepatitis) had isolated HBsAg expression in the tissue (HBs type) and of these only 2 had rare Dane particles; b)4 patients (all with histologically very active chronic persistent hepatitis) with focal HBc- and HBsAg tissue expression (HBc+s type) and detectable Dane particles in blood; c)4 patients (1 with nonspecific reactive, 3 with chronic persistent hepatitis) with generalized HBcAg (and focal HBsAg) expression (HBc type) and multiple Dane particles in blood. Among 22 patients with aggressive inflammation (19 with chronic aggressive, 3 with "hippie"-hepatitis) focal HBcAg tissue expression (HBc+s type) was found in 17 cases and absence of HBcAg in 5 (3 with focal HBsAg, 2 completely negative by immunfluorescence), all 22 associated with Dane particles in blood, however. In a group of 6 immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients exhibiting a high concentration of Dane particles in blood 5 patients had generalized HBcAg tissue expression (HBc type) in association with non-aggressive inflammation (1 nonspecific reactive and 4 chronic persistent hepatitis). One patient had chronic aggressive hepatitis in conjunction with focal HBcAg expression (HBc+s type). The consistent association of detectable HBcAg formation in the liver and presence of supposedly infectious Dane particles in blood has a bearing on the evaluation and classification of chronic hepatitis B. On the basis of a positive focal (HBc+s type) or generalized HBcAg tissue demonstration (HBc type and/or the direct identification of Dane particles in blood, discrimination of possibly highly infectious forms from those of low or even no infectivity has been rendered possible. This duality applies mainly to clinically and histologically benign non-aggressive forms of hepatitis presenting with a carrier state or chronic persistent hepatitis. On the basis of these and earlier findings a hypothetical concept of chronic hepatitis is presented which possesses proven diagnostic and prognostic applicability to routine liver biopsies. It is also capable of shedding new light on contradictory findings in the literature and serving as a basis for prospective epidemiologic studies.