Abstract
It should be considered that the term of chronic hepatitis does not mean a single disease entity but a certain condition of hepatitis.
Therefore it is a rather broader concept in which various etiological factors are included. Chronic hepatitis is a condition which shows morphologically persistent inflammatory findings in the liver but does not develop cirrhosis. Chronic inflammation of the liver induced by the focus in other organs is also included into chronic hepatitis in a broader sense of the word. Chronic inflammation of the liver alone is considered as chronic hepatitis in a narrow sense.
The fatty liver (Thaler) may be included in this concept of chronic hepatitis. Granulomatous inflammation in the liver such as tuberculosis is also one of the types of chronic hepatitis but should be treated in the special item.
Clinically the following symptoms and signs, although not always accompanied, suggests chronic hepatitis: General malaise, vague abdominal symptoms, subicterus, firm swollen liver, increase of BSP dye retention, elevation of serum γ-globuline, and instability of the value of serum transaminase activity. In the case in which the symptoms of hepatitis still last more than 3 months after the acute episode, it will be neccessary to be kept in mind a possibility of chronicity.
Histopathologically it shows portal inflammation, mobilization of Kupffer cells, focal and/or single cell necroses, and mild or moderate fibrosis which does not develope to pseudolobule.
Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis should be made comprehensively from both clinical and patholgical standpoints.
A nomenclature on the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis is discussed.
