[Diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis]

The authors review twelve cases of chronic hepatitis seen at the IMSS hospital in Puebla in a span of three years. They analyze and compare clinical, laboratory and biopsy data with special emphasis on the microscopic evolution of the disease and the response to different therapeutic regimes. Gamma-globulins were elevated in 80% and hepatitis B antigen in 50%. RIA is more sensitive than contra-immune electrophoresis. In six cases the diagnosis was of active chronic hepatitis and two of these developed towards cirrhosis; one became chronic persistent hepatitis and the other three are stationary and well controlled with prednisone. One patient died with a clinical picture of portal-systemic encephalitis. The six cases of persistent chronic hepatitis evolved towards a spontaneous cure.