ABSTRACT
Seventy-five liver biopsy specimens taken from patients with chronic active hepatitis(CAH) were studied with light microscopy, and 22 of the 75 with electron microscopy as well. The pathological changes of CAH could be divided into mild, moderate and severe types according to the severity and extent of the liv-e'r lesions. Piecemeal necrosis was an outstanding feature of this series of cases. Ultrastructttrally, the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes could be distinguished into 3 forms; rough endoplasmic reticulum(RER) dilatation, RER dilatation associated with mitochondrial swelling, and edema of cytosol. The last one was considered as one of the features of the severe type of CAH.Particular attention was paid to the changes of the cell membtane. Ultra-structurally, generalized thickening of the cell membrane was demonstrated in two forms, that is, (1) there was fibrillarv substance interposed between the membranes of 2 adjacent cells, and (2) the cell membrane became thickened, adhered with each other, or twisted, forming the so-called "chain-ring-like structure" , which was considered as another prominent feature of the severe type of CAH.According to our observation, the accuracy of diagnosis is chiefly dependent on the histopathological findings.