Abstract
In order to elucidade the morphorogical features of type C chronic hepatitis, we have studied the backgrounds, peritoneoscopic findings, and histological findings of 134 cases of non-A non-B chronic hepatitis and 115 cases of type B chronic hepatitis which were diagnosed at the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical Univ.. They were classified into 4 groups, type B (95 cases), type C (110 cases), B+C (20 cases), and non-B non -C (24 cases), by evaluating the titer of HCV-Ab in all cases. The mean age in type C and non-B non-C groups were older than those in type B and B+C. In type C group, the frequency of reddish markings (RM) with regular distribution over the liver surface was lower than those in type B, and the frequency of localized and larger RM (irregular RM) which were distributed irregularly was higher. Further detailed observation revealed that the irregular RM were localized mostly along the Cantlie line, or the boundary between the right and the left hepatic vessels. Those findings suggested the poor blood flow of the area. Histological findings revealed that these irregular RM pattern appeared in about 50% of CAH-2B cases. In conclusion, it was shown that the irregular pattern of RM on the liver surface was one of the characteristics of the peritoneoscopic findings of type C hepatitis.
