Although the ultrastructural changes in liver cells of experimental animals have been studied extensively, relatively little information is available regarding comparable changes in human liver. The degree of specificity and the pathogenesis of many of the structural alterations of mitochondria in animal liver cells are still obscure. Morphologic changes in human liver mitochondria are even less clearly understood. The purpose of this paper is to report prominent mitochondrial alterations in chronic alcoholic patients whose only consistent histologic abnormality was the presence of moderate to marked fatty metamorphosis. The nonspecificity of these alterations is indicated and their pathogenesis is briefly discussed.

Chronic alcoholism leads to prominent mitochondrial alterations in liver cells, with their pathogenesis being unclear and their nonspecificity indicating their nonspecificity.

Chronic alcoholism with fatty metamorphosis of the liver. Mitochondrial alterations in hepatic cells.

Key Takeaway: Chronic alcoholism leads to prominent mitochondrial alterations in liver cells, with their pathogenesis being unclear and their nonspecificity indicating their nonspecificity.