Pathological analysis of liver tissues from chronic hepatitis B patients with normal alanine aminotransferase levels
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6680.2010.06.007
- VernacularTitle:丙氨酸转氨酶正常的慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者的肝脏病理学分析
- Author:
Youwen TAN
;
Zhengquan SHI
;
Xuejun YU
;
Lijun YANG
;
Li CHEN
;
Li SUN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B,chronic;
Alanine aminotransferase;
Liver;
Biopsy
- From:
Chinese Journal of Infectious Diseases
2010;28(6):354-358
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To study the liver histological changes in chronic hepaitits B (CHB) patients with normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the related factors. Methods Six hundred and thirty-two CHB patients with normal ALT levels had undergone ultrasound guided percutaneous liver biopsies. All specimen were examined by HE staining, collagen fiber Masson staining and immunohistochemical staining for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score were both calculated and the relationship with age, serum levels of ALT and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatic expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were analyzed. The means between two groups were compared by t test and those among groups were compared by one-factor analysis of variance and q test. Enumeration data were analyzed by x2 test. Results Among 632 CHB patients with normal ALT levels, 167 (26.4%) showed moderate necrotic inflammation in liver tissues and 26 (4.1%) showed severe necrotic inflammation; 217 (34. 3 % ) showed moderate fibrosis and 52 (8. 2 % ) showed severe fibrosis (cirrhosis). The Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score in high ALT group were higher than low ALT group, those in female high ALT group were higher than male high ALT group and those in patients ＞ 40 years old were higher than ≤20 years old (q= 19.63, P＜0. 05). The liver injuries in patients with active HBV replication were more severe than those with undetectable HBV DNA levels (Knodell score, q=3.87, 2.87, 6.34; Ishak score, q=2.64,2. 64,5.54, all P＜0. 05),while there was no significant difference between patients with high levels and low levels of HBV DNA (F= 1.35, P＞0. 05). There was no significant difference between expressions of HBsAg (F= 1.65,0. 73,respectively; both P＞0. 05) and HBcAg in liver tissues and Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score (F=0. 17, 1.29, respectively; both P＞0. 05). Conclusions Liver biopsies should be considered in CHB patients with normal ALT levels and detectable HBV DNA levels, especially those ＞ 40 years old and with ALT of (0.75-1.00) × upper limits of normal (ULN).
