Histologic features and bile duct lesions in the alcoholic

Histologic features of 112 liver biopsy specimens from patients with alcoholic liver injury were studied. Alcoholic hyalin was found in 6 specimens (5.4%). Spherical giant mitochondria were detected in 9 specimens (8.0%). Fatty metamorphosis, infiltration by polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and pericellular fibrosis were observed in many specimens. Zonal or submassive necrosis was also found in 20 specimens (17.9%). Cholestasis was seen in 32 specimens (28.6%). Histologic changes in interlobular bile ducts were investigated in 103 specimens containing such ducts. Among 31 specimens with cholestasis, changes in interlobular bile ducts were detected in 19 specimens (61.3%), whereas biopsy specimens without cholestasis showed the changes in only 4 of 72 (5.6%). Changes observed in interlobular bile ducts included inflammatory cell infiltration and vacuolation of epithelium in most specimens. Swollen or flattened epithelial cells, karyopyknosis and eosinophilic degeneration were observed in many. These results suggest that the changes of interlobular bile ducts may be partially related to cholestasis in alcoholic liver injury.