Electron microscopic study of liver fibrosis associated with diabetes mellitus.

Electron microscopic studies of 13 cases of liver fibrosis associated with longstanding diabetes mellitus are presented. Comparing the centrilobular and periportal areas of the lobules there appeared to be a difference in the amounts of glycogen, fat, collagen and the character of mesenchymal cells. Centrilobularly, collagenization of sinusoids and pericellular accumulation of fibres appeared with the destruction of hepatic cells. In the periportal regions there was an accumulation of Kupffer's cells with active phagocytosis and centrally of Ito's cells and fibroblasts. The presented alterations were similar to the central pericellular fibrosis described in connection with morbid obesity. Despite the large number of available data on liver fibrosis there is still no satisfactory explanation for the pathomechanism of centrilobularly developing fibrosis.