Joanna Cielecka-Kuszyk1, Joanna Siennicka1, Joanna Jabłońska2, Olga Rek1, Paulina Godzik1, Daniel Rabczenko3, Kazimierz Madaliński4. 1. Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene, 24, Chocimska Street, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland. 2. Department of Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, Warsaw Medical University, 37, Wolska Street, 01-201, Warsaw, Poland. 3. Department of Medical Statistics, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene, 24, Chocimska Street, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland. 4. Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene, 24, Chocimska Street, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland. kmadalinski@pzh.gov.pl.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze histopathological changes in the liver and serum inflammatory cytokine level in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with and without cryoglobulinemia. METHODS: The study group consisted of 34 patients with chronic hepatitis C, confirmed by serological and virological markers. Ten out of 34 patients had cryoglobulinemia. The control group consisted of 21 healthy persons. Liver biopsy specimens of HCV-infected patients were evaluated by light microscopy using the grade and the stage according to Batts and Ludwig classification. The quantitative measurements of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and tumor necrosis factor in sera were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mean age of HCV-infected patients with cryoglobulinemia was higher than age of HCV-infected patients without cryoglobulinemia. Microscopic examination of liver biopsy specimens revealed necroinflammatory activity slightly more prominent in patients with cryoglobulinemia. The most prominent inflammatory changes connected with abundant lymphoid aggregates in most of the examined portal tracts and piecemeal necroses were diagnosed in patients with several extrahepatic manifestations, such as cutaneous manifestations, nephrotic syndrome, polyneuropathy, and arthropathy. Liver fibrosis was similar in patients with and without cryoglobulinemia. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of all proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-8, were significantly higher in the patients with cryoglobulinemia in comparison with the patients without cryoglobulinemia and healthy persons. All microscopic features did not correlate with the level of any investigated proinflammatory cytokines.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze histopathological changes in the liver and serum inflammatory cytokine level in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infectedpatients with and without cryoglobulinemia. METHODS: The study group consisted of 34 patients with chronic hepatitis C, confirmed by serological and virological markers. Ten out of 34 patients had cryoglobulinemia. The control group consisted of 21 healthy persons. Liver biopsy specimens of HCV-infectedpatients were evaluated by light microscopy using the grade and the stage according to Batts and Ludwig classification. The quantitative measurements of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and tumor necrosis factor in sera were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mean age of HCV-infectedpatients with cryoglobulinemia was higher than age of HCV-infectedpatients without cryoglobulinemia. Microscopic examination of liver biopsy specimens revealed necroinflammatory activity slightly more prominent in patients with cryoglobulinemia. The most prominent inflammatory changes connected with abundant lymphoid aggregates in most of the examined portal tracts and piecemeal necroses were diagnosed in patients with several extrahepatic manifestations, such as cutaneous manifestations, nephrotic syndrome, polyneuropathy, and arthropathy. Liver fibrosis was similar in patients with and without cryoglobulinemia. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of all proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-8, were significantly higher in the patients with cryoglobulinemia in comparison with the patients without cryoglobulinemia and healthy persons. All microscopic features did not correlate with the level of any investigated proinflammatory cytokines.
Authors: S Realdon; P Pontisso; F Adami; L Trentin; F Noventa; A Ferrari; I Migliorato; A Gatta; A Alberti Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: Ulrike Mihm; Eva Herrmann; Ulrike Sarrazin; Michael von Wagner; Bernd Kronenberger; Stefan Zeuzem; Christoph Sarrazin Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 25.083