11.   The association between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma has been described, although the exact oncogenic mechanism is unknown.

12.   We report on patients with chronic viral hepatitis who died of hepatic Decompensation during or shortly after interferon alfa treatment.

13.   Long-term consequences include chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

14.   Histological evidence of chronic hepatitis was present in all patients who underwent a liver biopsy.

15.   Their diagnostic relevance, however, has been questioned recently following the detection of signs of hepatitis C virus infection in autoimmune chronic hepatitis patients.

16.   It has been repeatedly reported that smooth muscle antibodies of autoimmune chronic hepatitis are directed to cell actin.

17.   Both reactivities are in fact uncommon in autoimmune chronic hepatitis.

18.   ELISA optical density values were higher in the cryptogenic group than in the autoimmune chronic hepatitis.

19.   Of particular interest is the relationship between autoimmune chronic hepatitis and hepatitis C virus infection.

20.   All had been HBsAg positive for more than six months and had histologic features of chronic hepatitis.