[Quantitative histoenzymological studies in the diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis].

The examination has involved 89 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, aged 14 to 59, 68 male and 21 female ones. Thirty-two (36.0%) patients suffered from chronic viral hepatitis B. Life-time biopsy of the liver was performed in all the cases. Chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) has been diagnosed in 39 patients, chronic active one (CAH) in 50. Histochemical examinations of the biopsy specimens included measurements of alkaline phosphatase (AP) by the azocompound method, of 5-nucleotidase (5-Nuc) by the Ca-Co method, and of hepatocyte pigments. Stereologic methods were used in morphometric analysis of the area of sinusoids active for AP and 5-Nuc enzymes and of the intracellular pigment level with consideration for their distribution in the hepatic lobe. The findings evidence a significant increase of the area of sinusoids active for AP and 5-Nuc in CAH patients, in contrast to those with CPH, but the latter group has developed much higher levels of hepatocyte pigments. These data may be useful to specify the activity of chronic viral hepatitis in cases with poorly representative biopsy specimens.