[Drug therapy in chronic liver disease].

Treatment of virally induced chronic hepatitis consists of interferons, nucleotide and nucleoside analogues. So far, combination therapies are not superior to a monotherapeutic regimen. If detected early, inherited metabolic diseases (e.g. hereditary hemochromatosis, M. Wilson) can be successefuly treated, leading to a normal life expectancy of the patients. In contrary treatment of cholestatic chronic liver disease, especially of PSC, is far from being satisfying, due to our very limited knowledge of the etiology of this diseases. The same holds true for the therapy of NASH. Weight reduction and treatment of the often underlying diabetes are therapeutic cornerstones in the moment. On the other hand, immuosuppression, some times life-long, remains a (highly successful) treatment option in cases of proven autoimmune-hepatitis.