Abstract
The ultrastructure of capillaries and terminal arterioles in the portal tract of the liver was studied in 15 patients (CPH, CAH 2A and CAH 2B in five patients respectively), and compared with normal controls. In each case, the diagnosis was established on clinical, biochemical and histological basis. Specimens for histological examination were obtained from needle biopsy under peritoneoscopy.
Capillaries in chronic hepatitis were divided into three groups morphologically. Type 1 capillary was generally of normal structure. Type 2 was a newly formed capillary composed of immature endothelial cells and pericytes, which was usually located at the periphery of the portal tract. Type 3 was characteristic of those swollen endothelial cells with scarce cell organelles that resulted in various degrees of obstruction of the capillary lumen. This capillary was found in the center of the portal tract in the vicinity of the terminal arteriole whose endothelial cells show the same change as those seen in Type 3 capillary.
Capillaries and terminal arterioles in CPH were similar to those seen in control liver and belonged to Type 1 capillaries with terminal arterioles intact. On the other hand, capillaries and terminal arterioles in both CAH 2A and 2B were usually composed of Type 2 and 3 capillaries and terminal arterioles with swollen endothelial cells. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in number of capillaries in the portal tract tissue in both CAH 2A and 2B, but no remarkable change in CPH.
