title: Chronic hepatitis. The challenge of diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis can be caused by a variety of viruses or therapeutic agents, but in about 80% of cases, the cause is unknown. Distinguishing between chronic persistent and chronic active hepatitis is of primary importance in diagnosis and treatment. Percutaneous liver biopsy is necessary to make the distinction. In most cases, chronic persistent hepatitis does not necessitate specific therapy. Chronic active hepatitis responds to a wide range of therapeutic options: corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, antivirals, and immunostimulants. Prognosis depends on the risks and advantages of therapy as well as the severity and cause of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Medical Center of Richmond, Staten Island, NY 10310.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bruckstein
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis