title: Improvement of liver histopathology in patients with hepatitis C after interferon and ribavirin combination therapy.
abstract: Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of interferon and ribavirin combination therapy on liver histopathological outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-treatment and post 24-week treatment liver biopsy specimens were available in 68 naive patients, 37 nonresponders and 18 relapsers after interferon monotherapy. For all patients paired liver biopsies (6-month interval) were assessed for necroinflammation (according to the method by K. Ishak), fibrosis (according to METAVIR score) and steatosis at the end of 24-week treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Virological end-of-treatment response was: 36.8% in naive patients, 24.3% in nonresponders and 22.2% in relapsers. Out of 38 patients, who achieved virological end-of-treatment response, sustained virological response was in 65.8%. There was obvious drop of histological activity features scores in all treated patients at the end of 24-week treatment period. According to the baseline findings, only confluent necrosis was found to be significantly lower in patients, who achieved virological end-of- treatment response (p<0.05). The fibrosis and steatosis has not been influenced at least by 24-week treatment success. But in patients, who achieved sustained virological response, fibrosis was lower at baseline and after 24-week of interferon and ribavirin therapy (p<0.001). In conclusion, assessment of liver histopathology has real value in the evaluation of therapeutic response. Grade of pre-treatment confluent necrosis could predict virological end-of-treatment response. Lower stage of fibrosis both at baseline and after 24-week treatment period seems to be a predictor of sustained virological response.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. vitalijap@takas.lt
authors.forename: Vitalija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrenkiene
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gudinaviciene
authors.forename: Laimas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonaitis
authors.forename: Limas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kupcinskas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons