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Abstract:
In addition to hepatitis type A, B and hepatitis due to infection with Epstein-Barr or cytomegaly-virus, the existence of a further type of hepatitis could be demonstrated by comprehensively sensitive and specific serologic assays. In 85% of the patients, the transmission was parenteral. The source of infection is identical with that of hepatitis B. Until now, the methods for detection of this type of hepatitis consists of double immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescence. Improvement of sensitivity and specificity of these methods are to be expected in the near future. The rate of chronicity is approximately 30%. Aggressive courses seem to be less frequent than in hepatitis B. No general recommendation can be given for pre- or post-expositional vaccination with normal serumglobulins, since the results of controlled studies are contradictory and different.