title: Serologic markers of hepatitis A and B in chronic active hepatitis.
abstract: Sera from 44 patients with a well-documented diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were analysed for antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs, e-antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe, as well as antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Twenty-two patients had serologic evidence of hepatitis A infection. The frequency of anti-HAV was low in patients under 50 years of age (21%) but high among older patients (72%). There was, however, no significant difference between patients and age-matched controls regarding the prevalence of anti-HAV in serum. Markers for hepatitis B virus were found in 10 patients or 23% as compared with about 10% in Swedish blood donors. The results indicate that hepatitis A virus is of little importance in the pathogenesis of CAH and confirm the association between hepatitis B virus and development of chronic active hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens