[New developments in therapy and prophylaxis of viral hepatitis (author's transl)]

Acute viral hepatitis is in most of the cases a self-limited disease. Therefore, therapeutic procedures are concentrated upon chronic aggressive hepatitis. Thus far immunostimulation has proven to be not very effective, Antiviral therapy with interferon, poly I:C, vidarabine, or ribavirin seems to be more promising, but at present, immunosuppressive treatment is still the therapy of choice despite its obvious disadvantages. The shortcomings of therapy, accord the prophylaxis of viral hepatitis the greater chance. Against hepatitis A, passive immunisation can be achieved with ordinary gamma-globulin, whereas against hepatitis B, hyperimmunoglobulin (HBIg) has to be used. Active immunisation is presently possible against hepatitis A and B. In a few years, the necessary quantities of vaccine will be available to commence vaccination on a large scale. Some promising results are obtained in our endeavour against hepatitis non A non B, but an effective prophylaxis will not be available in the near future.