Alcoholic hepatitis with and without alcoholic hyaline.

Sixteen cases of alcoholic hepatitis with alcoholic hyaline (Group I) and 13 cases without alcoholic hyaline (Group II) have been collected since 1970. These were most frequently found in the fifth decade in both groups. One female was found in Group I. Cases of about two-thirds of both groups were comsumers of 110 g or more of alcohol per day. No significant differences except fever and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were found in clinical and laboratory changes between both groups. Fatty change in liver biopsy specimens were more frequently seen in Group I than in Group II. The wedged hepatic venous pressure was markedly elevated in alcoholic hepatitis with cirrhosis and moderately elevated in alcoholic hepatitis without cirrhosis. Wedged hepatic venography showed the main portal trunk and extrahepatic collaterals, namely, reversal of the portal flow or such tendency in 2 out of 5 patients of Group I.