Degree of Viremia and Liver Histology in Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

This non-interventional descriptive study, was carried out in a private centre named The Liver Centre, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, between April and September, 2010. Core needle liver biopsies of fifty five patients of chronic hepatitis C were evaluated according to Knodell's histological activity index system. The patients were categorized into four subgroups depending upon the grade and stage of disease according to Desmet's classification, and into three groups according to degree of viremia. Five patients had mild viremia, 43 moderate and 7 had severe viremia. Seven patients had minimal disease, 9 mild, 22 moderate and 17 had severe chronic hepatitis. Eight patients had no fibrosis, 20 had fibrous portal expansion, 19 bridging fibrosis, and 8 patients had cirrhosis. No significant correlation was found between serum HCV RNA levels and grade or stage of the disease, with correlation coefficients of rs = -.054 and rs = .034 respectively. Moreover, no individual component of the HAI correlated with serum HCV RNA levels. Serum HCV RNA level does not determine the degree of hepatic injury precisely and liver biopsy is necessary to accurately evaluate the extent of liver damage.

Key Words: HCV; Chronic Hepatitis; Liver Biopsy

DOI: 10.3329/akmmcj.v1i2.7460

Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal 2010; 1(2): 17-20