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Autoimmune hepatitis (AH) is a chronic inflammatory immunodependent disease of the liver. Women are affected more frequently than men. The patients show clinical and morphological signs of chronic hepatitis, extrahepatic manifestations of immune disorders (autoimmune thyroiditis, non-specific ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, diabetes mellitus, etc.), readily respond to glucocorticoid therapy have elevated levels of ALA, gamma-globulins (especially IgG), serum ANA, SMA, LKM or SLA antibodies. Untreated AH promotes rapid development of liver cirrhosis with 90% 10-year lethality. AH is diagnosed by exclusion and is of primary importance for clinical practice. The treatment is based on the use of immunosuppressors as a rule prescribed in addition to steroid therapy. It results in complete remission and normal life expectancy in 80% of the cases.

Current achievements in clinical hepatology according to literature, materials of the congresses and symposia, rich personal medical and research experience are reviewed.

One hundred and twenty patients suffering from food allergy were examined for cellular immunity and allergic reactions according to Gell and Coombs. It was found that food allergy was associated most frequently with immediate allergy characterized by elevated blood IgE level and food antibodies titer in the serum. Less frequent were delayed and immunocomplex reactions occurring in severe and polyvalent allergy. In food allergy the count of T-lymphocytes and T-suppressors is reduced, their activity inhibited. There is a moderate rise in B-lymphocytes and T-helpers levels. The treatment promoted improvement of cellular and humoral immunity, though normal indices got recovered in half the cases only. This fact explains frequent recurrences and dictates the necessity of long-term therapy. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying food allergy may be helpful in administration of valid pathogenetic treatment.

The effectiveness of treatment of ulcer patients with various types of laser radiation by the argon, heliun-neon and crypton lasers was studied in 137 patients. The results of laser treatment were compared with those in controls constituting 60 patients who were treated with commonly used therapeutic methods. The sparing techniques of laser therapy promote much earlier cicatrization of gastric and duodenal ulcers, shorter terms of hospital stay and reduction of temporary working disability. Laser therapy leads to a decrease in the number of disease recurrences in the first two months and has no significant influence on the incidence of recurrences in the remote period.