METHODS

Forty-eight needle biopsies from 36 patients with steatohepatitis who were not believed to drink significant quantities of alcohol were collected from the surgical pathology files of the University Health Network. Masson trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin stains were examined. Each recognizable hepatic vein< 30 μm in diameter was graded for luminal obstruction: 0 to 3 (none, mild, moderate, or severe). Steatosis was graded 0 to 3 when the percentage of hepatocytes containing large droplet fat was< 1, 1 to 33, 33 to 66, and> 66, respectively. Activity was graded 0 to 3 based on hepatocellular ballooning only. Histological stage was determined using the Laënnec scoring system (0 to 4, where 4 equals cirrhosis).[15]