[Vascularization in hepatic cirrhosis: an immunohistochemical study on necropsies].

Background: Fibrosis has been the most cited variable in cirrhosis, but major alterations in hepatic vascularization have been pointed as basic elements in the physiopathology of the illness and its complications as portal hypertension, hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The present study aims at assessing microvascular density in 35 cases of necropsies of cirrhotic patients by immunohistochemical detection of endothelial marker CD34, comparing semi-quantification with morphometric quantitative method, also searching for a possible relation of vascular alterations with the main causal agents, injury patterns and major clinical complications.

Results: A significant association was detected between semi-quantitative and quantitative approach of microvessel density in parenchyma, but not in septa.