Regression of liver fibrosis in cases of chronic liver disease type C: quantitative evaluation by using computed image analysis.
OBJECTIVE
It was reported that the liver fibrosis is reduced in patients with chronic liver disease type C after eradication of HCV. Degree of fibrosis was expressed by the classical fibrosis scoring system (F0-F4) at present. However a change of subtle reduction of fibrosis cannot be expressed in its fibrosis score and thus we measured an area of fibrosis and compared detailed change of the fibrosis area in paired liver biopsy.


METHODS
For quantitative assessment of liver fibrosis, we measured an area of fibrosis using computed digital image analysis and pursued the rate of a fibrosis area for whole biopsied liver tissue of 25 patients with HCV infection (20 complete response patients to IFN therapy who showed viral eradication: CR and 5 non-treated ones with IFN but had conservative therapy: CT).


RESULTS
In CR group, fibrosis rate was 7.2 +/- 1.5% before therapy, 2.7 +/- 0.5% after the therapy and they were significantly regressed. In CT group, fibrosis rate was 8.4 +/- 4.3% at the first biopsy, 15.9 +/- 7.7% at the second biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Regression of liver fibrosis could be confirmed in patients with virologic response to IFN even in patients with liver cirrhosis. Our quantitative evaluation provided information superior to that obtained by the classical fibrosis staging score system.
Arima
Makoto
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, Oita University, Oita 879-5593.
Terao
Hideo
H
Kashima
Kenji
K
Arita
Tsuyoshi
T
Nasu
Masaru
M
Nishizono
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons