Сhronic viral hepatitis associated with opisthorchiasis: pathomorphological study

The key pathomorphological features detected in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis B and C concomitant with chronic opisthorchiasis included acidophilic degeneration of hepatocytes, a tendency to alterative reactions, intra and extracellular cholestasis, and destruction of ductal epithelium. Comparative electron microscopic analysis revealed stereotypical ultrastructural changes which could be interpreted as a specific complex of cytopathic and compensatory reactions of hepatocytes. This complex includes intracellular cholestasis with lipofuscin and bile pigment accumulation, agranular endoplasmic reticulum hyperplasia as a result of metabolic stress, and formation of cytolemmal folds which promote the exchange between sinusoidal blood and parenchymal cells.