Hepatic fibrogenesis.

The main pathogenic mechanism of the progress of chronic hepatitis into cirrhosis is represented by fibrogenesis. Stopping this progress is the subject of much research and would. The hepatic stellate cells play a central role based on their ability to undergo activation following liver injury from any cause is important. On the basis of improved knowledge of the pathophysiology of fibrogenesis, the development of new therapeutic approaches will become possible. (Fig. 3, Ref. 50.)