elastin and Hepatitis-C--Chronic

The aim of this study was to determine if elastin content in needle core native liver biopsies was predictive of clinical outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.. Elastin contents in liver biopsies were determined by image analysis, technically validated in an independent centre, and correlated with outcome in patients with advanced (Ishak stage ≥5) chronic hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease. Elastin was robustly quantified in an operator-independent and laboratory-independent manner, with very strong correlation of elastin staining measured with two methods of image classification (r. We describe a simple and reproducible method for elastin quantification in liver biopsies that provides potentially valuable prognostic information to inform clinical management.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; Elastin; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged

The fibrosis stage, which is evaluated by the distribution pattern of collagen fibers, is a major predictor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for patients with hepatitis C. Meanwhile, the role of elastin fibers has not yet been elucidated. The present study was conducted to determine the significance of quantifying both collagen and elastin fibers.. We enrolled 189 consecutive patients with hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis. Using Elastica van Gieson-stained whole-slide images of pretreatment liver biopsies, collagen and elastin fibers were evaluated pixel by pixel (0.46 μm/pixel) using an automated computational method. Consequently, fiber amount and cumulative incidences of HCC within 3 years were analyzed.. There was a significant correlation between collagen and elastin fibers, whereas variation in elastin fiber was greater than in collagen fiber. Both collagen fiber (p = 0.008) and elastin fiber (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with F stage. In total, 30 patients developed HCC during follow-up. Patients who have higher elastin fiber (p = 0.002) in addition to higher collagen fiber (p = 0.05) showed significantly higher incidences of HCC. With regard to elastin fiber, this difference remained significant in F3 patients. Furthermore, for patients with a higher collagen fiber amount, higher elastin was a significant predictor for HCC development (p = 0.02).. Computational analysis is a novel technique for quantification of fibers with the added value of conventional staging. Elastin fiber is a predictor for the development of HCC independently of collagen fiber and F stage.

Topics: Aged; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Collagen; Elastin; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Incidence; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors