RESUMO
The spectrum of histological changes in needle biopsies of the liver tissue was analysed in 43 patients with chronic liver disease who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in their sera. Majority of the patients were around 40 years and there was a male predominance. According to histopathological pattern, there were 18 (41.8%) cases of chronic active hepatitis, 16 (37.2%) cases of inactive cirrhosis, 3 (6.9%) cases of chronic persistent hepatitis and 2 (4.7%) cases of chronic lobular hepatitis and hepatoma each. Two (4.7%) cases could not be exactly categorised into any particular histological entity. The inflammation, hepatic cell necrosis and fibrosis were more marked in cases of chronic active hepatitis without past history of jaundice. Micronodular cirrhosis was the most common histological pattern in the study. Shikata orcein stain for detection of HBsAg in the hepatocytes was positive in 8 (18.6%) cases only.