A prospective follow-up study was conducted in a consecutive series of 145 patients with biopsy-verified acute viral hepatitis of less than one month duration. Thirty-three patients (22.8%) were shown to have bridging hepatic necross. Two patients (6%) died of hepatic failure and 14 of 27 (52%) developed chronic liver diseases. In contrast, none of 103 patients with classic hepatitis died and 18 of 75 (24%) developed chronic liver disease (P<0.01). Chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis developed more frequently in patients with bridging hepatic necrosis, though the differences are statistically non-significant. This study seems to add support to the prognostic value, of bridging hepatic necrosis in acute viral hepatitis.