Implications of histologic changes in the liver tissue in pediatric practice
Based on the material of 827 puncture biopsy samples of the liver, the authors analyze the meaning of histologic changes in diagnosing and controlling the efficacy of antiviral and pathogenetic therapy of chronic hepatitis in children. It is shown that even in the absence of virological remission in some patients the indices of inflammation and fibrosis improve considerably. In children of the first 3 months of life with cholestatic syndrome, the liver biopsy data are decisive for survival prognosis. Also, the authors discuss the results of studying the effect of long intake of methotrexate on the liver in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.