Abstract
Serum and tissue hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were compared in 35 alcoholic and 23 non-alcoholic subjects affected by chronic liver disease. Seventeen point one per cent of alcoholic and 21.7% of non-alcoholic subjects had HBV tissue markers, but not serum markers, for this virus. It is therefore concluded that showing the presence of HBV tissue markers permits a better aetiological definition of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative chronic liver disease, both in alcoholic and non-alcoholic subjects.