Evidence of ongoing virus multiplication in type B fulminant hepatitis

The presence of HBeAg- and HBV-specific DNA-polymerase (DNA-P) activity-regarded as markers of HBV multiplication-were studied in 40 patients with fulminant hepatitis B within 1-5 days of the onset of hepatic encephalopathy. HBeAg and DNA-P were detected in three (7 %) and 21 (51%) of the patients respectively. Only three (7%) were positive for anti-HBs. DNA-P activity was present in 38.1 % even 10 days after the appearance of icterus. Present findings confirm an ongoing HBV multiplication in about half of the patients of fulminant hepatitis B.