Biopsies from 35 patients and autopsy material from 20 patients who died of chronic hepatopathy were studied. Hydropic dystrophy and inflammation were predominant in HCV infection. Chronic alcoholic intoxication (CAI) was characterized by diffuse large-droplet fat dystrophy and liver fibrosis. In combination of HCV-infection with CAI sclerotic processes were pronounced and therefore liver cirrhosis is more frequent than in other groups.