Chemical dissolution of cholesterol gallstones using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in six patients with histologically confirmed HB_sAg-negative chronic active hepatitis was started after a minimum of one year of therapy with steroids, azathioprine, or chloroquine and a treatment-free period of 8–15 months. The treatment with UDCA lasted 3–20 months with a daily dose of 8–11 mg/kg. Four patients served as controls. A decrease in transaminases (P<0.05) occurred="" in="" all="" patients="" during="" the="" udca="" therapy.="" after="" completion="" of="" the="" treatment,="" the="" figures="" rose="" again,="" but="" did="" not="" return="" to="" the="" initial="" value.="" the="" stones="" dissolved="" in="" five="" patients.="" a="" second="" liver="" biopsy="" was="" carried="" out="" in="" two="" patients="" after="" udca="" therapy,="" and="" this="" showed="" no="" detectable="" deterioration.="" four="" patients="" refused="" biopsy="" because="" the="" laboratory="" parameters="" had="" improved="" under="" udca.="" a="" stone="" recurred="" in="" one="" patient="" six="" months="" after="" the="" end="" of="" therapy;="" the="" others="" have="" remained="" free="" of="" stones="" for="" up="" to="" 24="">