Topological analysis of the morphogenesis of liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Cirrhotic and precirrhotic livers consist of three-dimensional parenchymal networks. Topological analysis has been carried out using the total connectivity number p ₁ on the livers from 6 autopsy cases of chronic liver diseases of different types. The total p ₁ amounts to 6,100,000 in chronic hepatitis of periportal type and 6,350,000 in portal cirrhosis, but to only 100,000 in posthepatitic cirrhosis of coarse-nodular type. In view of the similarity of values for p ₁ in chronic hepatitis and portal cirrhosis, the former is considered to give rise to the latter by continuous change in structure or through “piecemeal” progression of the periportal lesion. Development of posthepatitic cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis is possible only through a substantial reduction in p ₁, which is brought about by parenchymal necrosis sufficient in extent to cause multiple disconnection of the network.