Comparative study of different types of treatments in chronic active hepatitis

Ninety-six patients with pathologically-proven, chronic, active hepatitis were studied to evaluate different lines of treatment. Patients were divided into the following groups: control (followed without specific active treatment), corticosteroid group, azathioprine group, corticosteroid and azathioprine group, chlorambucil group, 5-fluorouracil group, colchicine group and isoprinosine group. Patients were followed clinically, biochemically, and histopathologically. Results showed that patients put on any therapeutic regimen did either the same or worse than the control group left without active therapy. There was no difference in response to treatment between HBsAg +ve or -ve patients; both groups showed no improvement. Some patients given active treatment developed the side effects and complications from the drug used.