Forty six selected autopsy livers with hepatic disorders were classified histologically into three groups, i.e., hepatitis 8, liver cirrhosis 16 and hepatocellular carcinoma 22, chiefly by histological findings. These groups were subdivided into two categories after determining the presence or absence of three HBV associated markers, i.e., the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and the antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in

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... sera and liver homogenates. At least one of these markers was found to be present in the sera and homogenates of 38% of the livers with hepatitis, 69% of the livers with liver cirrhosis and 77% of the livers with hepatocellular carcinoma. When the liver tissues were examined for the presence of HBV DNA using Southern blot technique, the majority of them (10 out of 11) which proved to be positive for at least one HBV associated marker were also positive for HBV DNA. However, HBV DNA could not be detected in the other 10 livers which contained no HBV associated markers. These results showed that a HBV associated serological marker was always expressed, when liver tissue HBV DNA was demonstrable. The results of the two detection methods we used in this study were found to be almost equivalent. These results showed no evidence of nucleic acid homology between DNA from the liver of patients with non-B type liver disorders and HBV DNA. hepatic disorder ; classification ; HBV associated markers ; HBV DNA hybridization ; non-A, non-B hepatitis Although many viruses have been implicated as etiological agents of hepatitis, the main causative agents of hepatitis are now divided into three groups ; type A (HAV), type B (HBV) and non-A, non-B (NANB) virus(es). Of these three, HBV has been examined most extensively at the biological, immunological and clinical levels. Highly sensitive serological tests have also provided a basic approach for monitoring the appearance of specific antigens during the course of an HBV infection. Exact correlation of histological classification of hepatic disorders to