Biomaterial Database

Hepatic fibrosis in alcoholic steatosis. Morphologic aspects and evolutive tendencies. 1988

T Banciu, and N Tudose

Fourth Medical Clinic, Timişoara, Romania.

Alcoholic hepatic steatosis, considered for a long time as a reversible "harmless" disease, is now re-evaluated according to the concept of cirrhosis without cell necrosis and inflammation. The study of 166 biopsies from alcoholic hepatic steatosis has demonstrated the presence of fibrotic process in 25 (15%) of the cases. Histologic and electron microscopic examination have supplied data on the distribution of this fibrosis (perivenous, perisinusoidal and extensive) as well as on the cells involved in collagen synthesis; myofibroblasts, fat storing cells (Ito cells) and the hepatocyte itself. Peritoneoscopy revealed aspects of incipient portal hypertension in some of the cases. Follow-up in time with reiteration of morphologic exploration at intervals of 2 to 3 years has shown the possible evolution toward cirrhosis in cases of steatosis with fibrosis when ethanol consumption is continued. Detection of early fibrosis, in patients with alcoholic steatosis, by means of morphologic or biochemical methods would be necessary for its therapeutic implication: possible reversibility by abstinence from alcohol and antifibrogenic therapy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D005235	Fatty Liver, Alcoholic	Lipid infiltration of the hepatic parenchymal cells that is due to ALCOHOL ABUSE. The fatty changes in the alcoholic fatty liver may be reversible, depending on the amounts of TRIGLYCERIDES accumulated.	Alcoholic Fatty Liver,Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
D005355	Fibrosis	Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury.	Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001706	Biopsy	Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body.	Biopsies
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor