Pathohistological and immunohistochemical features of chronic hepatitis C progression

Abstract

Aim. The paper contains results of a comprehensive pathohistological and immunohistochemical study of liver biopsies of patients with chronic hepatitis C in comparison with clinical and biochemical parameters. The given paper is dedicated to the improvement of the most significant microscopic criteria of chronic hepatitis C progression in patients with trephine biopsy of the liver. Methods and results. According to the results of histochemical and histological studies such main components of a severe liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C have been identified: increase of the number of perisinusoidal Ito cells, common walls collagenization of intralobular sinusoids and expansion of their space, fibrosis in immune cell “step necrosis” areas and in the portal tracts. Conclusion. It was found that expression of A-SMA by Ito cells and fibroblasts is early predictor of the probable liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C with normal levels of transaminases in the blood or moderate hyperenzymemia, while the development of severe liver fibrosis is preceded by a significant increase in the number of activated Ito cells in the perisinusoidal liver spaces.

Keywords

• hepatitis C virus
• chronic liver stellate cells
• fibroblasts
• liver cirrhosis