HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF VIRAL-HEPATITIS

The main method of classification of chronic viral hepatitis is now by cause, and the old histology-based classification is no longer consid ered appropriate. However, liver biopsy remains an important part of p atient assessment and, in the context of clinical trials, biopsy findi ngs are often scored in a semiquantitative manner, The concepts of gra ding and staging, borrowed from tumour pathology, have been introduced , representing the severity of the necroinflammatory lesion and the ex tent of its structural consequences respectively, The pathology of the individual forms of viral hepatitis A to G shows more similarities th an differences. However, some pathological features are commonly assoc iated with specific viruses. The combination of portal lymphoid follic les, bile duct damage, lobular activity and steatosis give chronic hep atitis C a characteristic histological profile, Very similar appearanc es have been noted in the limited number of biopsies so far reported f rom patients with known combined hepatitis C and G virus infection.