[Effect of a bicycle ergometry training program in the acute phase of viral hepatitis on its late prognosis]

37 patients with clinically and histologically ascertained acute virus hepatitis (51% virus hepatitis B) underwent a bicycle-ergometric load a short time after admission to hospital and 17 of them were subsequently submitted to a training from twice a day to 30 minutes with 70% of the submaximal steady state effect. After their discharge from hospital all patients were repeatedly examined in the outpatient department for on an average 2.7 years; 20 patients (8 in the load group, 12 in the comparative group) were submitted to a liver biopsy on an average after one year. In 11 of the other patients the result of a histological examination of the liver from the end of the clinical treatment was present. The comparison of the training group and the control group showed nearly the same percentage of cures for the two groups as well as no transitions into chronic hepatitis in the training group. Also clinical and biochemical relapses did not appear in the load group. In a follow-up observation up to five years in the training group did not appear any disadvantage concerning the complete cure of virus hepatitis so that we apparently do not fear any negative sequels of physical activity in the acute phase of virus hepatitis. A forced immobilisation of the body--after proved ineffectiveness of diet and medicamentous treatment last support of the therapeutic regime--thus seems no more be indicated, since it is also accompanied by impairing reduction of the bodily function.