[Follow up in a case of congenital hepatic fibrosis (author's transl)].

A case of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is described. CHF is characterized by hepatomegaly, portal hypertension, extensive portal fibrosis, ectatic bile ducts, and hypoplasia of terminal portal vein branches. In contrast to the severe portal hypertension liver function tests are largely normal. In our case the disease was first detected when the patient was 7 years old. During the following 9 1/2 years three sequential liver biopsies were performed. Each of them showed the same picture and no progression occurred. The characteristic histological picture of CHF includes mature bile ducts without epithelial proliferation, absence of significant intraportal or interlobular inflammatory infiltrates, and small or hypoplastic distal portal vein branches. On the basis of these features the disease can easily be separated from other forms of liver cirrhosis.