Comparison of liver histopathology between chronic hepatitis C patients and chronic hepatitis B and C-coinfected patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to compare the histological characteristics of livers between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with and without hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection.


METHODS
A total of 336 CHC patients (male/female: 204/132, mean age: 46.1 +/- 11.7 years) were enrolled in the study; 32 patients (9.8%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The histological characteristics of livers were described according to the Knodell and Scheuer scoring system.


RESULTS
The proportion of non-intralobular necrosis (score 0) was significantly lower and the mean intralobular necrosis score was higher among CHC patients with HBV coinfection than those without coinfection (43.8% vs 64.5%; 0.84 +/- 1.05 vs 0.53 +/- 0.89). The epidemiological and virological parameters, and other histological scores (periportal necrosis, portal inflammation, total necroinflammation and fibrosis) were not significantly different between these two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic hepatitis C patients with HBV coinfection tend to have more severe intralobular necrosis than those with isolated HCV infection.
Lee
Li-Po
LP
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Dai
Chia-Yen
CY
Chuang
Wan-Long
WL
Chang
Wen-Yu
WY
Hou
Nei-Jen
NJ
Hsieh
Ming-Yen
MY
Lin
Zu-Yau
ZY
Chen
Shinn-Cherng
SC
Hsieh
Ming-Yuh
MY
Wang
Liang-Yen
LY
Chen
Tong-Jong
TJ
Yu
Ming-Lung
ML
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D014762:Viral Interference
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens