BACKGROUND: Sampling variability on liver biopsy has been demonstrated in a variety of liver diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether sampling variability exists on percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Two separate tissue samples were obtained from the right lobe of the liver, through a single skin puncture, in 29 patients (22 M, mean age 43.4 +/- 8.1 years) with chronic HCV infection. The biopsies were assessed using a descriptive histological reporting system and Knodell's Histological Activity Index (HAI) and compared for differences in necroinflammatory activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage). RESULTS: Thirteen (44.8%) patients had a difference of > or = 1 grade between the 2 biopsies on the descriptive system and 13 differed by > or = 1 stage. On the HAI, 20 (69.0%) patients had a difference of > or = 2 in the necroinflammatory activity score and 10 (34.5%) had a difference of > or = 4; whereas, 11 (38.0%) patients had a difference of > or = 1 in the fibrosis score and 6 (20.7%) had a difference of > or = 2. The mean difference between the two sets of biopsies was 2.4 +/- 2.1 (range 0-7) for the necroinflammatory activity and 0.6 +/- 0.9 (range 0-3) for fibrosis. Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) was moderate for both necroinflammatory activity (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) and fibrosis (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Sampling variability exists on percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with chronic HCV infection and should be taken into consideration when decisions regarding prognosis and therapy are made based on biopsy, and when defining histological response to antiviral regimens.
BACKGROUND: Sampling variability on liver biopsy has been demonstrated in a variety of liver diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether sampling variability exists on percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Two separate tissue samples were obtained from the right lobe of the liver, through a single skin puncture, in 29 patients (22 M, mean age 43.4 +/- 8.1 years) with chronic HCV infection. The biopsies were assessed using a descriptive histological reporting system and Knodell's Histological Activity Index (HAI) and compared for differences in necroinflammatory activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage). RESULTS: Thirteen (44.8%) patients had a difference of > or = 1 grade between the 2 biopsies on the descriptive system and 13 differed by > or = 1 stage. On the HAI, 20 (69.0%) patients had a difference of > or = 2 in the necroinflammatory activity score and 10 (34.5%) had a difference of > or = 4; whereas, 11 (38.0%) patients had a difference of > or = 1 in the fibrosis score and 6 (20.7%) had a difference of > or = 2. The mean difference between the two sets of biopsies was 2.4 +/- 2.1 (range 0-7) for the necroinflammatory activity and 0.6 +/- 0.9 (range 0-3) for fibrosis. Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) was moderate for both necroinflammatory activity (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) and fibrosis (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Sampling variability exists on percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with chronic HCV infection and should be taken into consideration when decisions regarding prognosis and therapy are made based on biopsy, and when defining histological response to antiviral regimens.
Authors: E Cholongitas; A Quaglia; D Samonakis; M Senzolo; C Triantos; D Patch; G Leandro; A P Dhillon; A K Burroughs Journal: Gut Date: 2006-04-24 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Fabio Grizzi; Carlo Russo; Barbara Franceschini; Mariagrazia Di Rocco; Valter Torri; Emanuela Morenghi; Luigi Rainiero Fassati; Nicola Dioguardi Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2006-12-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Han Hyo Lee; Yeon Seok Seo; Soon Ho Um; Nam Hee Won; Hanna Yoo; Eun Suk Jung; Yong Dae Kwon; Sanghoon Park; Bora Keum; Yong Sik Kim; Hyung Joon Yim; Yoon Tae Jeen; Hoon Jai Chun; Chang Duck Kim; Ho Sang Ryu Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2009-12-26 Impact factor: 2.153