Regression of Liver Fibrosis in Cases of Chronic Liver Disease Type C: Quantitative Evaluation by Using Computed Image Analysis

Abstract

Object 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.

Evaluation of Histological and non-Invasive Methods for the Detection of Liver Fibrosis: The Values of Histological and Digital Morphometric Analysis, Liver Stiffness Measurement and APRI Score

“…Their findings were similar to the observations made by Arima et al, who evaluated liver samples of twenty-five patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C before and after interferon treatment. These authors were able to detect fibrosis regression in cirrhotic patients by means of DMA, which was otherwise undetectable by semi-quantitative method [19]. Many reports have been published in regard to the strong correlation between different semi-quantitative fibrosis scores and various quantitative morphometric methods used for the evaluation of fibrosis [17,[20][21][22].…”

Regression of Liver Fibrosis in Patients Treated By Interferon

“…Therefore, fibrosis of the liver could not be regarded as "irreversible" and down in one step fibrosis stage can be expected within 4 years on average if the virus is eradicated. In this issue of the Journal Arima et al (10) actually quantified the amount of fibrosis using computer software. If you take into consideration the measures such as histological assessment of the fibrosis by quantitative measure, almost all of the cases in which the virus was eradicated by interferon showed regression of fibrosis to a varying extent.…”

Interferon therapy following treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in an 83-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis

“…A characteristic of HCC with HCV-related liver cirrhosis (CLC) is that it recurs frequently after curative therapies for the initial HCC [3]. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that interferon (IFN) therapy is effective not only for improving liver biochemistry and reducing inflammation and fibrosis, but also for lowering the risk of future episodes of HCC and improving overall prognosis [4][5][6][7]. However, it has been reported that the efficacy of IFN therapy for elderly patients is poor [8].…”