Progress in diagnosis of hepatitis and the cirrhotic liver

History of the concept and definition of hepatitis is briefly reviewed. The landmarks of progress are based on better understanding of liver structure and introduction of biopsy techniques to follow the pathologic alterations in acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, dysplasia and hepatoma. Modern achievements are recognition of the etiologic agents of viral hepatitis A through G, viral nucleic acid sequencing, viral genome and gene products leading to development of immunologic tests to etiologic diagnosis. Viral particles are visualized by electron microscopy. In tissue, localization of viral products is obtained by histochemical, immunologic and by in situ hybridization methods. Diagnostic criteria for each of the viral etiologic agents is reviewed, as is cirrhosis and its occurrence in viral hepatitis and alcohol abuse.