The absence of any statistically significant difference in Beclin 1 expression in tissues from patients with HCV- versus HBV-related CH suggest that the higher Beclin 1 expression levels seen in hepatitis are an epiphenomenon of inflammation, prone to a burn-out process in the more advanced phases, and that this process takes place irrespective of the type of virus involved. This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and hepatitis A virus infection.