Topological analysis of the morphogenesis of liver cirrhosis.

Cirrhotic and precirrhotic livers consist of three-dimensional parenchymal networks. Topological analysis has been carried out using the total connectivity number p1 on the livers from 6 autopsy cases of chronic liver diseases of different types. The total p1 amounts to 6,100,000 in chronic hepatitis of periportal type and 6,350,000 in portal cirrhosis, but to only 100,000 in posthepatitic cirrhosis of coarse-nodular type. In view of the similarity of values for p1 in chronic hepatitis and portal cirrhosis, the former is considered to give rise to the latter by continuous change in structure or through "piecemeal" progression of the periportal lesion. Development of posthepatitic cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis is possible only through a substantial reduction in p1, which is brought about by parenchymal necrosis sufficient in extent to cause multiple disconnection of the network.