Chronic active hepatitis with cholestatic features. II. A histopathological study.

A review of 25 liver biopsies from 12 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with cholestatic features (Group 1) and of 30 biopsies from 23 patients without such features (Group 2) revealed that in Group 1 the bile duct epithelium showed significantly more hyperplasis, atypia, swelling, vacuolization and inflammation. When present in patients of Group 2, these parameters, in general seemed to be less severe. The number of bile ducts per portal space was similar in both groups. Thus, on a cumulative basis, a correlation was found between the clinical and biochemical features of cholestasis and the histological signs of bile duct damage.