[Liver histology in chronic hemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis C virus].
Liver biopsies were analyzed in 21 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who tested positive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), using Elisa II and/ or PCR. The study included 14 men and 7 women, the average age being 41 years old (range: 20-65). The average span of time under dialysis was 64 months (range: 12-192). Hbs ag. was positive in six patients. Patients underwent biopsy for showing persistent rise of transaminase for more than 6 months. The modified Knodell Index was used to grade hepatic lesions. All biopsies showed chronic hepatitis, of which 2 were associated with cirrhosis. Eight patients were infected with mild chronic hepatitis, ten were infected with moderate chronic hepatitis, and only three patients had a severe lesion. Fibrosis was mild in 13 cases, moderate in 6, and 2 had cirrhosis. Chronic Hepatitis C characteristic lesions analysis showed lymphoid nodules in 6 cases (29%), ductal epithelium lesions in 7 (33%), and steatosis in 7 (33%). Chronic HCV infection in our patients seems to have histologic characteristics similar to those reported in HCV positive non CRF patients.
Servicio de Patología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigacíones Clínicas (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A
A
Iotti
M A
MA
Avagnina
O
O
Mandó
A
A
Cusumano
R
R
Brunet
R
R
Iotti
M
M
Turín
B
B
Elsner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies