Intracellular Cholestasis in HCV and HBV Infection

Structural analysis of hepatocytes in liver biopsy specimens from patients with hepatitis C and C+B with intracellular cholestasis was carried out. Large foci of bile components in hepatocytes led to cell damage, eventuating in cell destruction and death. The cholestatic variant of mixed infection was characterized by destructive necrotic changes in hepatocytes and progressive fi brosis of the liver. Destruction of the hepatocyte cytoplasmic organelles was associated with high activity of the infectious process and pronounced cytolytic syndrome.