Chronic persistent hepatitis. Long-term prospective study on the natural course of the disease.

Ninety-nine patients with chronic persistent hepatitis were followed up in a prospective study for an average of 6.7 years. Fifty-six patients had positive HBV markers; 29 of these patients had persistent HBs antigenemia, and 4 had persistent HBe antigenemia. No patient developed chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver. It can be concluded that chronic persistent hepatitis is a benign non-progressive disease that does not require therapy.