Human parvovirus B19 infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Parvovirus B19 has been reported to be detected in the sera of patients with acute or chronic hepatitis. The prevalence and clinical significance of B19 DNA in serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated. METHODS: Serum samples from 54 patients with HBV infection, 51 with HCV infection and 53 normal controls were examined for anti-B19 antibodies and B19 DNA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blotting and direct nucleotide sequencing, respectively. RESULTS: Anti-B19 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 19 (35.2%) and 46 (85.2%) of 54 serum samples from patients with HBV infection, and eight (15.7%) and 36 (70.6%) of 51 serum samples from patients with HCV infection. B19 DNA was detected in serum samples of 20 (37%) of 54 patients with HBV infection and 12 (23.5%) of 51 patients with HCV infection, but not in 53 serum samples from normal controls. The occurrence of liver dysfunction was not affected by B19 infection in patients with HBV and HCV infection (P > 0.05). All of the 20 serum samples with B19 DNA from patients with chronic HBV infection and all of the 12 serum samples with B19 DNA from patients with chronic HCV infection exhibited TW-3 subtype and TW-9 subtype, respectively. The variant subtypes of B19 were found to be distinctive in patients with HBV or HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data revealed that human parvovirus B19 infection was frequently found in patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection. The variant genotypes were present in patients with different chronic hepatitis. The coinfection of B19 with HBV or HCV did not increase the frequency of liver dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis. Long-term longitudinal studies are required to determine the natural course of parvovirus B19 infection and whether its coinfection affects the natural history of chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C.     

Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus antibodies in haemophiliacs treated exclusively with clotting-factor concentrates considered safe against human immunodeficiency and hepatitis C viruses

Clotting-factor concentrates (CFC) are a potential source of transmission of blood-borne viruses. Newer physical and chemical methods (pasteurization, wet-heating, solvent/detergent treating) developed to inactivate viruses are effective against HIV, HBV and HCV. However, it is not clear if these methods protect against other pathogenic viruses such as parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). To evaluate the safety of current CFC we have studied seroprevalence of parovirus B19, CMV, HAV and HEV antibodies in 22 HIV and HCV negative haemophiliacs who were treated exclusively with clotting-factor concentrates considered safe with respect to HIV and HCV transmission, 22 healthy individuals served as controls. Neither HAV nor HEV antibodies were detected in haemophiliacs or controls.
Two controls and two haemophiliacs were seropositive for CMV. Five controls (32% prevalence) and 15 haemophiliacs (77%) were positive to parovirus B19. No statistical differences can be established for seropositivity with CMV, HAV and HEV between haemophilic patients and controls. In the case of parvovirus B19 the differences are statistically significant ( P = 0.0128). The relative risk of parvovirus B19 is 2.4 in the case of haemophiliacs. CFC considered safe against HIV and HCV are not safe against parvovirus B19, although they seem to be safe against CMV, HAV and HEV.     

Single (B or C), dual (BC or BD) and triple (BCD) viral hepatitis in HIV-infected patients in Madrid, Spain

INTRODUCTION: There are very limited data about the prevalence of multiple hepatitis virus infections in HIV infected individuals. In HIV uninfected individuals with triple BCD hepatitis, hepatitis D virus (HDV) appears to be the dominant virus. However, in HIV infected patients with triple hepatitis it is not known if HDV replication inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. METHODS: We calculated the prevalence of single (B or C), dual (BC) and triple (BCD) hepatitis in 423 HIV-infected patients with positive HCV serum antibodies and/or positive serum HBsAg. In patients with multiple infections we performed an evaluation of serum markers of HBV, HCV and HDV replication. RESULTS: The prevalence of multiple hepatitis was 4.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.7-6.7%). Multiple hepatitis occurred only among patients who acquired HIV through injection drug use. The most common multiple hepatitis was triple BCD. Patients with hepatitis BC and past or chronic hepatitis D were significantly more likely to have cirrhosis and a negative serum HBeAg and HCV PCR than patients with single hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Patients with chronic hepatitis D showed uniform suppression of HBV and HCV replication markers. CONCLUSIONS: In our geographic area approximately 5% of HIV infected patients with hepatitis suffer multiple hepatitis virus infection. In patients with triple hepatitis BCD virus infection, HDV appears to be the dominant virus causing inhibition of both HBV and HCV replication.     

Is routine viral screening useful in patients with recent‐onset polyarthritis of a duration of at least 6 weeks? Results from a nationwide longitudinal prospective cohort study

Objective

To study the contribution of routine viral screening tests in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or a potential for progressing to RA.

Methods

Eight hundred thirteen patients with swelling of at least 2 joints for at least 6 weeks and a symptom duration of less than 6 months in the ESPOIR cohort were screened for parvovirus B19 (IgG and IgM anti–parvovirus B19 antibodies), hepatitis B virus (HBV; hepatitis B surface antigen), hepatitis C virus (HCV; anti‐HCV antibodies), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; anti–HIV‐1 and ‐2 antibodies).

Results

Parvovirus B19 testing was performed in 806 patients and showed longstanding immunity in 574 (71.2%) and no antibodies in 223 (27.7%). Among the 9 remaining patients (7 IgG positive/IgM positive, 1 IgG negative/IgM positive, and 1 IgG indeterminate/IgM positive), only 2 (0.25%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0–0.99%) had a positive polymerase chain reaction test for parvovirus B19; these patients (women ages 34 and 40 years) had no extraarticular signs. HIV seroprevalence was 0.12% (n = 1 of 813; 95% CI 0.01–0.8%) and HCV seroprevalence was 0.86% (n = 7 of 808, 95% CI 0.38–1.86%). HCV‐related arthritis was diagnosed in 4 patients (0.5%). HCV‐seropositive patients had significantly higher transaminase levels than the other patients (P = 0.001), with no significant differences for the other laboratory data. HBV seroprevalence was 0.12% (n = 1 of 808; 95% CI 0.01–0.8%); the positive HBV status was known before study inclusion, and the patient had no diagnosis of HBV‐related arthritis. Finally, routine viral testing identified 2 patients with parvovirus B19 infection and 3 with HBV infection (0.6%; 95% CI 0.2–1.5%). Cost was €85.05 per patient (total €68,720).

Conclusion

Routine serologic testing did not contribute substantially to the diagnosis in this context.     

SEN virus infection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Although most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with either the hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV, HCV), about 10-20% of HCCs occur in patients with chronic hepatitis that is aetiologically undefined. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of the transfusion-transmitted SEN virus (SEN-V) in patients with HCC, including those patients who do not otherwise appear to be infected with HBV or HCV. Fragments of SEN-V subtypes D and H were amplified separately by PCR from the sera of 50 patients with HCC (31 from Canada and 19 from Japan) as well as from HCC and adjacent nontumourous liver tissues from eight of the Canadian patients. SEN-V DNA was found in the serum of 10 of 31 (32%) Canadian patients and eight of 19 (42%) Japanese patients [overall, 18 of 50 (36%) HCC patients]. SEN-V DNA was detected in the serum of 10 of 23 (43%) HCC patients with antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), six of 11 (55%) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and two of 16 (12%) without detectable anti-HCV or HBsAg. Twenty-three HCC patients in this study had 'silent HBV,' characterized by the detection of HBV DNA in the absence of HBsAg; eight of these (35%) also had SEN-V infections. SEN-V DNA was detected in HCC patients most typically in those with coexistent HBV or HCV infection. SEN-V was found in only one of seven HCC patients without HBV (without HBsAg or HBV DNA) or HCV and thus does not appear to be an important cause of 'cryptogenic' HCC.     

Elevated Clq-bearing immune complexes in hemophiliacs with viral infections]

One hundred hemophilia A and 30 hemophilia B patients who had been treated with non-heated and heated factor VIII or prothrombin complex concentrates were examined by immunological tests including Clq-bearing immune complexes assay. Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human parvovirus B19 (B19) were analyzed by Western blotting, enzyme immunoassay, passive hemagglutination or radio-immunoassay. Clq-bearing immune complexes were assayed by a monoclonal anti-Clq ELISA system (Immunomedics). Seropositivity to HIV-1, HBV, HCV, and B19 was 56.9%, 87.7%, 79.2% and 100% respectively. Clq-bearing immune complexes were positive in 109 of the 130 patients (83.8%). The positivity and the levels were extremely higher than those in normal individuals. Clq-bearing immune complex levels in patient positive for HIV-1, HCV, or HBV were higher than those in the negative group (HIV: P less than 0.001, HCV: P less than 0.005, HBV: P less than 0.05). When the patients were divided into four groups according to seropositivity to HIV-1 and/or HCV, Clq-bearing immune complex levels were the highest in the group positive for both antibodies, and the lowest in the group negative for both antibodies. These results suggested that each viral infection influences the formation of immune complexes and repeated viral infection increased the level of Clq-bearing immune complexes in these patients.     

Seroprevalence of occult hepatitis B among Egyptian paediatric hepatitis C cancer patients

Occult hepatitis B infection is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Egypt is among the highest in the world. In this study, we aim at analysing the rates of occult HBV infections among HCV paediatric cancer patients in Egypt. The prevalence of occult HBV was assessed in two groups of paediatric cancer patients (HCV positive and HCV negative), in addition to a third group of paediatric noncancer patients, which was used as a general control. All groups were negative for HBsAg and positive for HCV antibody. HBV DNA was detected by nested PCR and real‐time PCR. HCV was detected by real‐time PCR. Sequencing was carried out in order to determine HBV genotypes to all HBV patients as well as to detect any mutation that might be responsible for the occult phenotype. Occult hepatitis B infection was observed in neither the non‐HCV paediatric cancer patients nor the paediatric noncancer patients but was found in 31% of the HCV‐positive paediatric cancer patients. All the detected HBV patients belonged to HBV genotype D, and mutations were found in the surface genome of HBV leading to occult HBV. Occult HBV infection seems to be relatively frequent in HCV‐positive paediatric cancer patients, indicating that HBsAg negativity is not sufficient to completely exclude HBV infection. These findings emphasize the importance of considering occult HBV infection in HCV‐positive paediatric cancer patients especially in endemic areas as Egypt.     

肾透析患者血清中庚型肝炎病毒核酸的检测和与乙、丙型肝炎病毒同时感染分析

目的:了解肾透析患者庚型肝炎病毒(HGV)、乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)合并感染的状况。方法:应用逆转录多聚酶链反应扩增庚型肝炎病毒基因,采用蛋白酶K裂解法提取血清中HGV RNA,逆转录为cDNA后进行巢式扩增,获得238bp的特异性片段。用此方法对28例肾透析患者血清标本进行检测。结果:发现28例患者血清中有4例HGV RNA阳性。这4例患者同时合并HCV感染,其中2例为HBV、HCV、HGV合并感染。结论:肾透析患者是HGV感染的高危人群,HGV在肾透析患者中常与HCV、HBV合并感染。     

Hepatitis B virus DNA in sera and liver tissue of HBsAg negative patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA has been detected in HBsAg-negative patients with hepatitis C. We determined the rate and explored the clinical significance of HBsAg negative HBV coinfections in Austrian patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Sera (n=82, group I) or liver tissue (n=16, group II) from 98 HBsAg negative Austrian patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined for HBV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For control purposes, sera from 15 patients with chronic HBV infection (8 HBsAg positive, 7 HBsAg negative, all HBV PCR positive) were examined. RESULTS: HBV DNA was detected in 22% of sera and 19% of liver tissue specimens of patients with chronic hepatitis C. No significant difference in mean aminotransferase values, markers of HBV infection, inflammatory disease activity, or degree of hepatic fibrosis was observed in patients with or without HBV DNA. Anti-HBc alone as a marker of past HBV infection was more frequent in chronic hepatitis C patients compared to control individuals. Negative HCV PCR was more common (p=0.009) among patients with positive HBV PCR in serum. When examining repeat sera for HBV DNA, positive results were obtained in previously negative, but also negative results in previously positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Coinfection with HBV can be demonstrated by PCR in a considerable number of HBsAg negative Austrian patients with chronic hepatitis C. HBV infection seems to suppress HCV replication even in HBsAg negative patients with dual infection. HBV coinfection in HCV infected patients cannot be excluded by negative HBsAg status alone. Repeat PCR examinations are needed to exclude dual infections.     

HBV感染者HCV的重叠感染关系研究

目的 研究HBV感染患者中HCV的重叠感染状况及其相互关系。 方法 采用ELISA法对767例HBV感染患者同步检测HBV和HCV血清标志物,对可疑HCV感染但抗HCV阴性和/或抗-HCV阳性患者血清,采用PCR法检测HCV-RNA。 结果 HCV重叠感染率为4.82％,且在各类乙肝患者中存在非常显著差异(P<0.01);HBV/HCV感染组重症肝炎的发生率显著高于非HCV感染组(P<0.01);HBV/HCV感染组HBsAg阳性率显著低于单纯HBV感染组(P<0.05);HBV/HCV感染组HCV-RNA阳性率显著低于单纯HCV感染组(P<0.05)。 结论 HCV重叠感染与乙肝患者的发病、病情加重及重症肝炎的发生相关;HCV可抑制或中止HBsAg携带状态,但这种作用远不如对病情的加重作用重要;同时HBV对HCV的复制亦存在抑制作用。     

维持血液透析的尿毒症病人乙型丙型肝炎病毒感染情况研究

目的　了解北京地区 (东城、宣武、朝阳区 )接受规律性血液透析患者 ,乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV)和丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV)的感染情况及其相关因素。方法　 1998年 3～ 12月在北京协和医院、朝阳医院等 4家医院血液净化中心 ,长期维持血液透析的尿毒症患者 2 2 5例 ,血透中心工作人员及健康献血者 5 0例为对照组。分别用PCR法和高敏PCR法检测HBVDNA、HCVRNA ,ELISA法检测乙肝两对半及丙肝抗体 ,并分析其与透析时间、输血、肝功能损害的关系。结果　 2 2 5例血液透析病人中 ,HCVRNA阳性 37例 (16 4 %) ;HBVDNA阳性 3例(1 33%)。多元回归分析表明 :输血和透析时间是丙型肝炎感染的危险因素。共有 3 0 %(3/ 99)的病人同时感染乙肝和丙肝 ,均有肝功能的损害和临床症状 ,8 1%(8/ 99)HBcAb阳性患者同时合并HCV感染。结论　血液透析病人乙肝和丙肝感染远高于对照组 ,透析时间和输血次数是丙肝感染的危险因素 ,HBV和HCV同时感染问题值得重视。     

Evaluation of an automated high-volume extraction method for viral nucleic acids in comparison to a manual procedure with preceding enrichment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nucleic acid extraction still harbours the potential for improvements in automation and sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing. This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel automated high-volume extraction protocol for NAT minipool testing in a blood bank setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemagic Viral DNA/RNA Kit special for automated purification of viral nucleic acids from 9.6 ml of plasma by using the chemagic Magnetic Separation Module I was investigated. Analytical sensitivity for hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and parvovirus B19 (B19) was compared to our present manual procedure that involves virus enrichment by centrifugation. RESULTS: Chemagic technology allows automation of the viral DNA/RNA extraction process. Viral nucleic acids were bound directly to magnetic beads from 9.6-ml minipools. By combining the automated magnetic beads-based extraction technology with our in-house TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, 95% detection limits were 280 IU/ml for HCV, 4955 IU/ml for HIV-1, 249 IU/ml for HBV, 462 IU/ml for HAV and 460 IU/ml for B19, calculated for an individual donation in a pool of 96 donors. The detection limits of our present method were 460 IU/ml for HCV, 879 IU/ml for HIV-1, 90 IU/ml for HBV, 203 IU/ml for HAV and 314 IU/ml for B19. CONCLUSIONS: The 95% detection limits obtained by using the chemagic method were within the regulatory requirements for blood donor screening. The sensitivities detected for HCV, HBV, HAV and B19 were found to be in a range similar to that of the manual purification method. Sensitivity for HIV-1, however, was found to be inferior for the chemagic method in this study.     

Low prevalences of HBV and HCV infection in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis in Taiwan: A case control study

To study the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) against the background of HBV and HCV infection in the general population, serum specimens from a consecutive series of 27 patients with PBC and 108 age/sex matched ‘healthy subjects’ as control group were submitted to assays for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). None of the patients with PBC were HBsAg or anti-HCV positive while 17 (15.7%) and 6 (5.6%) of ‘healthy’ controls were HBsAg positive and anti-HCV positive (P= 0.017 and 0.26). Patients with PBC also had a significantly lower prevalence of HBV infection than matched controls (70.4%vs 88.9%, P= 0.022). The results suggest that neither HBV nor HCV plays any significant role in the pathogenesis of PBC, and that PBC would not develop or be masked in patients with HBV or HCV infection.     

Co-infection of human parvovirus B19 in Vietnamese patients with hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human parvovirus B19 (B19) has been identified in the serum of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients. However, the effect of B19-infection on the course of HBV-associated liver disease has not previously been investigated. We examined the prevalence of B19-DNA in HBV-infected Vietnamese patients and analysed the association between co-infection and the clinical outcome of HBV-infection. METHODS: Serum samples from 399 HBV-infected patients and 64 healthy individuals were analysed for the presence of B19-DNA by PCR and DNA-sequencing. RESULTS: B19-DNA was detected in 99/463 (21.4%) individuals. The proportion of HBV-infected patients who were also co-infected with B19 was higher than the healthy controls (P<0.001). B19-DNA was detected more frequently in patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma compared to patients with acute and chronic HBV, HBV-associated liver cirrhosis and healthy subjects (P<0.006). A positive correlation was also found between B19-DNA loads and both serum HBV-DNA loads and alanine aminotransferase (rho>0.250 and P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that B19-infection is frequent in HBV-infected Vietnamese patients. Also, a significant correlation exists between HBV/B19 co-infection and a greater likelihood of progression to more severe hepatitis B-associated liver disease. Further studies are required to determine the role of B19-infection on HBV-associated pathogenesis.     

Hepatitis C virus infection among elderly patients in a geriatric hospital

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and HCV viremia among elderly patients in a geriatric hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. Serum samples from 273 patients were analyzed for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. Serum samples of anti-HCV positive patients were analyzed for HCV RNA after amplification with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The samples were also analyzed for the presence of HBsAg and the HBsAg positive samples were analyzed for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 5 patients (1.8%). HCV RNA was detected in one of the 5 patients. HbsAg was found in 2 patients (0.7%). None had detectable HBV DNA. The findings of the study indicate that seropositivity for hepatitis C virus is relatively common among the elderly population studied. Most of those patients are probably not HCV carriers.     

Profound suppression of chronic hepatitis C following superinfection with hepatitis B virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share similar transmission routes; thus, coinfection is frequent. The consequences of acute HBV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C are unknown. METHODS: We describe a 47-year-old male with chronic hepatitis C who acquired HBV and then spontaneously and apparently completely cleared HCV but developed chronic hepatitis B. Five serum samples collected over 14 months and lymphoid cells obtained after acquiring HBV were tested for HCV and HBV by both standard assays and ultra-sensitive polymerase chain reaction/nucleic acid hybridization (PCR/NAH) (sensitivity approximately 2 IU/ml). RESULTS: After superinfection with HBV, HBV surface antigen-positive chronic hepatitis developed with readily detectable HBV DNA. All sera collected after acquisition of HBV, which tested negative for HCV RNA by standard laboratory assay, were positive for HCV genomes when analysed by PCR/NAH. Peripheral lymphoid cells carried HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA, but were negative for HCV. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of profound suppression of chronic hepatitis C after superinfection with HBV and establishment of chronic hepatitis B. It is hypothesized that HBV infection precipitated generalized and/or virus-specific cellular immune responses that profoundly suppressed HCV replication and yet failed to inhibit progression to chronic hepatitis B.     

Lower Hepatitis G Virus Infection Prevalence Compared to Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection Prevalences

To more accurately determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection, we surveyed antibody to HGV (anti-E2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HGV RNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 298 residents of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic area of Japan and in 225 hemodialysis patients. We then compared these findings with known HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalences. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA prevalences were 32 (10.7%) and 5 (1.7%) in the residents and 24 (10.7%) and 10 (4.4%) in the hemodialysis patients, respectively. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA concurrence was found in two of the hemodialysis patients. Total HGV marker (anti-E2 and/or HGV RNA) prevalences [37 (12.4%) in residents and 32 (14.2%) in hemodialysis patients], were significantly lower than the prevalences of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA [59 (19.8%) and 96 (42.7%)], and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) [87 (29.2%) and 101 (44.9%)] (P < 0.05). The anti-HCV prevalence in subjects with total HGV marker was significantly higher than in those without total HGV marker. There was no significant difference in anti-HBc prevalence between those with and without total HGV marker. The viremic rate was highest in HCV infection (HCV RNA by PCR/anti-HCV) (83.2%), with HGV infection (HGV RNA/total HGV marker) (21.7%) intermediate, and HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen by RIA/anti-HBc) (5.3%) lowest (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that HGV infection was less endemic than HCV and HBV. HGV was eliminated naturally more frequently than HCV infection and less frequently than HBV infection.     

Sequences of hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum and liver of patients with acute benign and fulminant hepatitis

We investigated hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver samples from 22 patients with acute benign hepatitis (AH) and 26 with acute fulminant hepatitis (FH) and compared the results with those obtained by detection of serum HBV DNA and HBV serological markers. Free HBV DNA forms were detected in 11 patients with AH and one with FH, a reflection of active HBV DNA replication in three patients and the end of viral multiplication in nine. Free monomeric HBV DNA was present in three patients with AH and six with FH, and free oligomers were identified in three patients with AH. Results from two patients with AH and seven with FH suggested the presence of dimeric or multimeric HBV DNA. Thus, the various forms of HBV DNA previously described in chronic HBV carriers may be observed at the acute stage of the viral infection. After comparing serological and hybridization data, we found that nine of 19 patients (one with AH and eight with FH) lacking serum HBV surface antigen might have had acute hepatitis related to infection with HBV or HBV variants.