Immunohistochemical identification of ito-cells with smooth muscle cell anti-actin in normal and pathological liver

Eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis of viral and alcoholic etiology investigated and core needle biopsy of the liver was performed. Microscopical investigation consisted of pathological diagnosis, grading and staging of chronic hepatitis and identification of ito cells with smooth muscle cell anti-actin. Ito cells were noted mainly around portal spaces as small cells with vacuolated cytoplasm. Their number is higher in normal liver and chronic persistent hepatitis. Few ito cells were observed in active forms and they are absent in almost all cases with cirrhosis. In chronic hepatitis of alcoholic origin, ito cells are large and their cytoplasma contains many vacuoles. A strong correlation between the number of ito cells and the stage of the chronic hepatitis was noted but it was not possible to correlate the same parameter with Knodell score.