The etiology of chronic persistent hepatitis is not known. The evidence to date supports the view that subacute hepatic necrosis, rather than the ordinary epidemic viral hepatitis, can and does progress into chronic persistent hepatitis and postnecrotic cirrhosis. Glucocorticoid therapy results in clinical and biochemical improvements. If its long-term administration to patients with chronic persistent hepatitis has more than symptomatic beneficial effect, it has not yet been conclusively established. Glucocorticoids are useful in suppressing the activity of ordinary viral hepatitis in those in whom the disease runs an excessively prolonged or a relapsing course. The administration of these biologically potent hormones may be associated with mild to life-threatening complications. A useful therapeutic adjunction for the treatment of chronic persistent hepatitis may prove to be 6-mercaptipurine. Bone-marrow depression, however, is a likely and dangerous hazard. The basic principles of the treatment of active parenchymal liver injury—rest and diet—have not been affected by the newer therapeutic adjuncts.