The Influence of Sex on the Pathologic Aspects of Cirrhosis of the Liver

Abstract

A review of 100 consecutive cases of cirrhosis of the liver in each sex showed that cirrhosis is largely postnecrotic in women and of the Laennec or so-called alcoholic type in men.

The high incidence of postnecrotic cirrhosis in women is probably due to the fact that women are more susceptible to severe damage from viral hepatitis than are men. The greater frequency of Laennec's cirrhosis in men undoubtedly is due to the higher incidence of alcoholism among men than among women.

Carcinoma of the liver is found more frequently in men who have cirrhosis than in women.