Abstract
Chronic hepatitis is conventionally defined as a state of hepatic inflammation associated with the presence of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in a patient for longer than six months. If HBsAg is detectable in the sera for six months or more, the patient is termed as a chronic hepatitis B carrier. Most patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection have however, preceding history of symptomatic acute hepatitis B. As the immune responses of such persons is inadequate, infectious HBV particles persist leading to continuous hepatocellular damage — chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) are often the result (Tiollais et al., 1985, 1988; Hollinger et al., 1991). Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major medical problem worldwide (Blum et al., 1991).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag Wien
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kurstak, E. (1993). Chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In: Viral Hepatitis. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-4437-4_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-4437-4_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-82387-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-4437-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive