[Morphologic classification of chronic hepatitis].

The diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (CH) should include the information on CH etiology, the presence or absence of CH activity as well as its morphological characteristics. CH may be of a viral etiology (the type of the virus should be mentioned in the diagnosis), autoimmune, drug-induced and alcoholic. The etiology can be established by means of the clinicomorphological analysis using immunological and immunohistochemical techniques. Sometimes it is possible to do so after routine staining of biopsies. Portal, lobular and periportal hepatitis are distinguished morphologically. Instead of the indefinite term chronic persisting hepatitis it is recommended to recognize active and non-active hepatitis.