The value of α-SMA in the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis severity in hepatitis B infection and cirrhosis development: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study

Aims : To investigate the value of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), an indicator of stellate cell activation, in predicting fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods and results : The liver biopsy specimens of 30 patients with a clinical diagnosis of CHB were obtained before treatment an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Histopathology 2005-09, Vol.47 (3), p.276-280
Main Authors: Akpolat, N, Yahsi, S, Godekmerdan, A, Yalniz, M, Demirbag, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - analysis
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy
chronic hepatitis B
Female
fibrosis
Hepatitis B - complications
Hepatitis B - virology
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Infectious diseases
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Liver - chemistry
Liver - pathology
Liver - virology
Liver Cirrhosis - etiology
Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism
Liver Cirrhosis - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Muscle, Smooth - chemistry
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Predictive Value of Tests
Severity of Illness Index
stellate cell
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
α-smooth muscle actin
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Summary:Aims : To investigate the value of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), an indicator of stellate cell activation, in predicting fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods and results : The liver biopsy specimens of 30 patients with a clinical diagnosis of CHB were obtained before treatment and scored by Knodell's histological activity index. The specimens were then immunohistochemically stained with α‐SMA and semiquantitatively evaluated. Fibrosis and the immunoreactivity of α‐SMA in the periportal, perisinusoidal and pericentral areas were compared. Fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in CHB patients were significantly correlated (P =0.022). Furthermore, the degree of α‐SMA expression and the scores of fibrosis (in periportal, perisinusoidal and pericentral areas) were highly correlated (P =0.000, 0.001, 0.000, respectively). Conclusions : In liver biopsy samples, α‐SMA may prove to be a valuable marker in the evaluation of stellate cell activation and fibrosis progression and an early indicator of the development of fibrosis.
ISSN:0309-0167
1365-2559
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02226.x