[A peculiar type of chronic persisting hepatitis (author's transl)]

Six cases of persisting hepatitis with a duration of 3 to 9 years are reported. During this time 2--3 acute inflammatory episodes occurred with transaminase levels raised to more than 500 U/l. Icterus did not occur during these attacks. The remaining laboratory parameters which are usually normal in persisting hepatitis (gamma-GT, bromsulfalein) were pathological during the acute attack and later became normal. As the disease progressed after overcoming the attack, the transaminases were only slightly raised in all cases. Laparoscopy and histological examinations of between three and nine punctates gave an unchanged picture of chronic persisting hepatitis. During the acute attack the inflammatory activities in the liver punctates increased, there were also increased single cell necroses. It is suggested that this peculiar type of chronic persisting hepatitis shall be called "acute recurrent persistent hepatitis.".