Morphological characteristics of acute alcoholic hepatitis
Mirodzhov, G.K.; Ladnaia, M.M.; Saliev, F.Sh.; Karimova, R.Ia.
Arkhiv Patologii 39(8): 42-48
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-1955 PMID: 72556 Document Number: 123049
Liver biopsies from 90 patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) developing against the background of steatosis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were studied histologically, histochemically and electron microscopically. AAH is characterized by necrosis of hepatocytes with deposition of alcoholic hyalin, obesity of the organ and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration. Hyperplasia of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the appearance of megamitochondria and an increased amount of peroxisomes reflect the participation of MEOS and the catalase system in alcohol metabolism with a progressive decrease in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase. Acute alcoholic hepatitis is a connecting link between steatosis and cirrhosis of the liver in which the accompanying autoimmune mechanisms and microcirculation disorder followed by activation of lipofibroblasts are conducive to the progression of the pathologic process.