[Ultrastructural morphometry of liver parenchyma in hepatitic cirrhosis]

An ultrastructural morphometric study was carried out to detect differences in parenchymal structures between chronic viral hepatitis and hepatitic cirrhosis for more reliable diagnosis of cirrhosis in needle biopsy. Five human liver biopsy specimens were selected from each of the following five groups: chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), mild chronic active hepatitis (MCAH), severe chronic active hepatitis (SCAH), active hepatitic cirrhosis (AHC) and inactive hepatitic cirrhosis (IHC). The ultrastructural changes in hepatitic cirrhosis which differed from those in chronic hepatitis were: (1) increase in the volume fraction (Vv) of hepatic intercellular space with increased Vv of collagen fibers and less microvilli in the space; (2) decrease in the Vv of perisinusoidal space with more collagen fibers and less microvilli; (3) decreased Vv and surface density (Sv) of RER in hepatocytes; (4) decreased Vv without change in Sv of mitochondria of hepatocytes.