Abstract
We have noted frequent occurrence of sporadic HBsAg negative acute hepatitis in Okitsu area of Shimizu-city since 1977. Most patients came from Okitsu area in 1977, whereas in 1980 there was a tendency that more patients were coming from adjaceht areas. Detailed serological study of 34 out of 49 patients with HBsAg seronegative acute hepatitis in 1980 revealed 8 type A, and 26 non-A, non-B hepatitis cases. All patients from Okitsu area were non-A, non-B type and all 8 patients with type A hepatitis were from other parts of the city. Therefore, acute non-A, non-B hepatitis frequently occurred in Okitsu area of Shimizu-city and showed high frequency of Chronicity. Serum tran-samines of these patients showed relatively low peak levels and often showed fluctuation in acute phase. Unlike reported epidemics of non-A, non-B acute hepatitis in India and Costa Rica, acute non-A, non-B hepatitis in Shimizu-city resembles that of post-transfusion hepatitis with high chronicity rate.
