[Histochemical observations of oral mucosa in the non-smoking cirrhotic patient (author's transl)].

: Buccal mucosa samples from non-smoking cirrhotic patients were studied with the help of histochemical methods and compared with biopsies from smoking cirrhotic and healthy subjects. Very few differences were observed between the two cirrhotic groups, except for the following which were noted in the epithelium of the non smoking group: an increase of acid phosphatase, an increase of SS and SH contents of the surface keratin, and an increase of the DNA in the active cellular layers. The basal cells mitochondria were almost always reactive. The vascular walls showed enzymatic changes with a decrease of thiamine pyrophosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity. These observations do not allow us to draw any conclusions regarding the pathogenesis of oral cancer in cirrhotic patients.