interface hepatitis

Interface hepatitis (piecemeal necrosis) is a process of inflammation and erosion of the hepatic parenchyma at its junction with portal tracts or fibrous septa.

The term ‘interface hepatitis’ was introduced because the death of hepatocytes probably involves apoptosis rather than, or as well as, necrosis, and because it takes place at the parenchymal–connective tissue interface.

It is common in chronic viral hepatitis but is also found in other conditions.

The inflammatory infiltrate is composed mainly of lymphocytes, with or without recognisable plasma cells, and is accompanied by fibrosis of the affected areas with new formation of collagens and other extracellular matrix components.

The process is sometimes referred to as classical or lymphocytic piecemeal necrosis in order to distinguish it from biliary, ductular and fibrotic piecemeal necrosis, processes found in chronic biliary tract disease.

Synopsis

 piece-meal necrosis

Variants

 high incidence of late graft fibrosis in pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation patients. (18581476)

References

 Interface hepatitis is associated with a high incidence of late graft fibrosis in a group of tightly monitored pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation patients.
Herzog D, Soglio DB, Fournet JC, Martin S, Marleau D, Alvarez F. Liver Transpl. 2008 Jul;14(7):946-55. PMID: 18581476