9. Alcoholic Hepatitis - H & E and Trichrome
At low magnification, hepatic steatosis is noted, especially in
centrilobular regions, in this case of alcoholic hepatitis. The
lobular architecture is hard to recognize at this magnification.
There is both a chronic and acute inflammatory infiltrate within
hepatic lobules. What are the pathobiologic mechanisms responsible
for alcoholic liver damage?
Answer
A connective tissue stain (trichrome stain) highlights the degree of
fibrosis that accompanies alcoholic hepatitis. Sinusoidal,
perivenular, and portal fibrosis show up in this slide as blue
stained areas. With continued injury, fibrous bands bridge between
central veins and portal areas and between adjacent portal areas
eventually resulting in alcoholic cirrhosis. Hepatocytes, many
showing macrovesicular steatosis, stain red. Would these changes be
reversible if this patient were to completely abstain from alcohol in
the future?
Answer
