| Abstrakt: |
Chronic hepatitis has recently received considerable attention1-19 under various designations including chronic viral hepatitis,2 lupoid hepatitis,7,12,14,16 plasma cell hepatitis,10 progressive hepatitis,15 or subacute hepatitis19. Although there appears to be general agreement as to the clinical and pathologic features of this disorder, there are controversial views on the efficacy of steroid therapy.10,12,14,16,20-29 This study was undertaken to assess the effect of longterm steroid therapy by means of liver function tests and serial liver biopsy specimens. Steroids were withheld for short in- tervals to determine the permanency of their effects and for purposes of control. REPORT OF A CASE The patient, a 56-year-old Negro female, was first admitted to the Cincinnati General Hospital on June 13, 1961. The onset of her illness was insidious with gradual progression of symptoms for a period of six weeks during which she noted vague epigastric pain, dyspepsia, and progressive anorexia |
