Viral Hepatitis: Current Concepts

Abstract

As Australia antigen is related to the hepatitis virus that causes type B hepatitis, it is currently proposed that the antigen be called hepatitis B antigen (HBA^g). About 5 percent of patients with acute HBA^g-positive hepatitis become carriers of HBA^g. When cirrhosis develops following acute viral hepatitis, in most instances it appears to evolve from type B hepatitis. There are numerous reports of frequent HBA^g positivity among patients with hepatic carcinoma, raising the possibility that the hepatitis B virus itself may be oncogenic.