[HBV serologic markers in the chronic alcoholism (author's transl)]

The prevalence of serum markers, HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, HBcAg and anti-HBeAg in a group of subjects affected by chronic alcoholism with fatty liver or with cirrhotic stages is reported. An incidence of chronic HBsAg carriers, similar to that found in healthy subjects, was noticed, while an elevated incidence of other serological markers of previous contact with HBV were found. The Authors discuss the significance of this report, on the basis of a greater possibility of contact with HBV, for social-economic situations of those patients. The etiopathogenetic role of HBV in the cirrhotic evolution of alcoholic liver diseases was excluded.