Abstract
Pathogenic mechanism of chronicity of viral hepatitis might be related with two quite different mechanisms. One of them is persistent infection of hepatitis B virus and non-A, non-B virus, which may be caused by incomplete immune reaction of the host to eliminate such viruses. Incomplete immune response against hepatitis virus is usually observed in newborn babies, young children and in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, leads to persistence of infection. Transition from acute hepatitis to chronic pattern or primary chronic hepatitis are more frequently observed in non-A non-B hepatitis than in hepatitis B. The second mechanism of chronicity of hepatitis may be related with autoimmune reaction against liver-cell membrane protein.
