Therapy of chronic hepatitis (author's transl)]

The favorable effect of glucocorticoids on the development of the chronic active hepatitis is statistically proved on the basis of the amelioration of the survival rate in controlled studies. The so-called lupoid hepatitis is significantly better influenced than the HBs-Ag positive chronic hepatitis. By additional therapy with azathioprine it is possible to reduce the dose of glucocorticoids. Therefore it is better to combine glucocorticoids and azathioprine in some cases, especially in those with a high dosed glucocorticoid therapy. Further prospective studies are necessary to check more precisely the therapeutic effect of the different remedies. The effect of D-penicillamine is vague. A treatment with chloroquine is indicated in cases with contraindications again glucocorticoids and azathioprine.     

Thoracoscopy in chronic pleural effusion (author's transl)]

123 patients with chronic pleurisy were investigated by thoracoscopy. The endoscopic biopsy is positive in 16 out of 17 cases of mesothelioma (96%), in 57 out of 72 cases of pleural metastasis (79%), and in 6 cases out of 7 pleural tuberculosis. Begnin pleural asbestosis was confirmed in 5. Endoscopic biopsy is thus more efficient than results obtained with pleural needle biopsy and exudative cytology. Thoracoscopy can be performed without any serious complications, this is not always true with open thoracotomy.