It was aimed to investigate histopathological changes in acute hepatic exacerbations. A total of 20 patients, who developed acute hepatic exacerbation on the base of chronic hepatitis B infection, were enrolled in the study and liver biopsy was performed. Histological activity index (HAI) and its components, fibrosis scores and total HAI score were calculated according to the Ishak scoring system. All of the patients enrolled in the study had portal inflammation and spotty necrosis. Fibrosis was present in 17 patients. The median grade, stage and total HAI scores of the patients were 7 (2-14), 2 (0-3) and 8.5 (4-16), respectively. Positive correlation was determined between necroinflammation and ALT. While grade and total HAI score did not show significant difference among genders, fibrosis was significantly higher in males (p=0.008). The findings of this study showed that there are significant correlation between histopathologic changes (grade and total HAI score) in liver biopsy and plasma ALT, AST and Total bilirubin levels during acute hepatic exacerbation in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Key words: Liver biopsy, hepatic exacerbation, Chronic hepatitis B infection
|
