Causes of minimal hepatic periportal fibrosis present in Egypt.

This study aimed to elucidate the common causes of minimal periportal fibrosis in Egypt. Out of 50 patients having minimal periportal fibrosis, 22 (44%) had schistosomiasis as a sole aetiology, 33 (66%) had combined schistosomiasis with both HBV and HCV. Rare causes were tuberculosis in 4% of the patients and HIV in 2%. No cause could be elicited in 14% of the patients. It is concluded that although schistosomiasis is the commonest cause of minimal hepatic fibrosis in Egypt, yet it is not the sole aetiological factor.