chronic persistent hepatitis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) is a relatively benign persistent viral hepatitis caused by:
- hepatitis B virus
- hepatitis C virus
- combined hepatitis B and delta infection
CPH may be viewed as the delayed recovery from the acute viral infection. Clearance of the virus may take several years.
The patient may be asymptomatic with elevated transaminases as the only sign of liver disease. Some patients have intermittent episodes of malaise, anorexia and jaundice.
Occasionally increasing severity of the disease heralds the conversion of CPH to chronic active hepatitis. Conversely, treatment of chronic active hepatitis may result in a histological appearance which resembles CPH.