Abstract
The histological features of the liver biopsy specimen taken from 28 patients with viral hepatitis Type A were compared with those of 10 patients with viral hepatitis Type B.
Liver biopsy specimens of viral hepatitis Type A were all obtained in the outbreak of viral hepatitis Type A at a primary school in Saga prefecture, 1977.
Liver biopsy was performed within 14 days after onset in 16 of 28 cases with viral hepatitis Type A and all of 10 cases with viral hepatitis Type B. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained over 30 days after onset in 12 of 28 cases with viral hepatitis Type A.
In viral hepatitis Type A, portal tracts are markedly enlarged with a dense mononuclear cell infiltrate. The hepatocytic alterations are mainly restricted to the periportal area, and the parenchymal alterations are less severe than the changes of the portal tract. Proliferation of Kupffer cells is less conspicuous.
In contrast, in viral hepatitis Type B, the hepatocytic alterations are more remarkable in the centrilobular areas while portal inflammation is less conspicuous.
