[Liver biopsy findings after intake of oral contraceptives (author's transl)]

115 liver biopsies of women who had taken oral contraceptives have been examined. In 106 of these case (68.4%) morphological modifications were found which may be considered as effects of the hormonal contraceptives. Dilations of the sinusoids with differently proliferated Kupffer cells were predominantly evident (73 cases). Medicamentally induced hepatitis (20 cases) and cholestatic hepatosis (5 cases) were considerably rare. The sinusoid ectasias may be understood as a consequence of liver damage by steroid hormones. The pathogenesis of the changes is unknown.