Studies on epidemic hepatitis and its sequelae

Lucke, B.; Lucke, B

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Studies on epidemic hepatitis and its sequelae

Lucke, B.

Transactions and Studies of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia 16(1): 32-41

1948

ISSN/ISBN: 0010-1087

PMID: 18859163

Accession: 025558232

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Summary

This paper deals with present day knowledge of the nature of epidemic hepatitis, with particular emphasis on its pathology. The material which forms the basis of the study consists of over 300 fatal cases, mainly among military personnel; a somewhat smaller series of non-atal cases studied by means of biopsies: and a 3d group in which the liver was examined after clinical recovery either by biopsy or postmortem. The history of the disease, its etiology and epidemiology, and the clinical picture of hepatitis are reviewed. In all cases of hepatitis, the liver is the site of the principal lesions which in the usual benign form of hepatitis differ only in degree but not in kind from the lesions of the much rarer fatal form. In both forms, 2 processes dominate the picture: destruction of liver cells and an inflammatory reaction. When the disease appears in fatal form, it usually runs a subacute course of about 6 weeks; in recent years a more fulminant form has appeared in which death occurs within 10 days. In the great majority of non-fatal cases complete restoration of the liver occurs; and, as a rule, an attack of hepatitis will not be followed by untoward effects of progressive nature. In the discussion of pathologic physiology and of clinico-pathologic correlations, the frequent disparity between clinical duration and probable age of lesions has been pointed out; the mechanisms of jaundice and of ascites have been considered; and the problem of the so-called hepato-renal syndrome, and the factors responsible for fatal hepatitis have been dealt with.

Studies on epidemic hepatitis and its sequelae

Lucke, B.

Transactions and Studies of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia 16(1): 32-41

1948

Full-Text Article emailed within 1 workday

Summary

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