Liver pathology in idiopathic portal hypertension / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the histopathological changes of livers in idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liver specimens from 29 cases with idiopathic portal hypertension were studied. Histological preparations of the livers were stained with haematoxylin eosin and Masson's trichrome; reticular fibers in the liver tissues were demonstrated. The slides were also stained using some immunohistochemistry methods, and the pathological changes of the livers were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The characteristic changes found in these IPH livers were dense portal fibrosis; obliteration, with or without phlebitis, of the branches of the portal vein; dilatation of the sinusoids; atrophy and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Histopathological changes of the livers in IPH are dense portal fibrosis, portal vein branch obliteration and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells. These are the main features for a histopathological diagnosis of IPH.</p>