Erythrocyte C3b receptors (E-CR1) were assayed by ELISA in 16 patients with acute viral hepatitis. In 13 patients with hepatitis type A, type B, or type non-A non-B, the E-CR1 level was significantly lower in the acute phase than in healthy controls, and recovered in the convalescent phase. The E-CR1 levels in 3 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis remained below the mean level of the healthy controls. These findings suggest that the E-CR1 level fluctuates in acute viral hepatitis, and that it continues to be reduced in some patients with non-A non-B acute hepatitis.