Increasing Prevalence of Unexplained Liver Necrosis

IT is commonly agreed that focal areas of necrosis may occur in the liver in a wide variety of infectious and toxic processes, in gram-negative bacteremia and in other conditions associated with shock that lasts for twenty-four hours or longer. It is known also that blotchy, hemorrhagic areas of liver necrosis may occur in association with such diseases as eclampsia or poisoning with certain chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride. A review of current autopsy material from the University Hospitals revealed what appeared to be an increase in the prevalence of unexplained liver necrosis. In an effort to evaluate this impression, a more thorough review of a larger number of autopsies was undertaken. This paper is concerned with the results of this survey, and discusses several factors that may be of importance in the pathogenesis of the hepatic lesions.