Introduction Liver fibrosis and alterations of the normal lobular hepatic architecture are the hallmarks of liver cirrhosis. To assess the degree of fibrosis and the severity of the structural changes affecting parenchymal and extraparenchymal hepatic components in liver cirrhosis, a computerized morphometric model has been applied to liver specimens from patients undergoing liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis, posthepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis. Patients and Methods Fifty-two hepatectomy specimens from patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for cirrhosis were analyzed. Fifteen alcoholic, 26 posthepatitic (i.e. 12 HBV-related and 14 HCV-related cirrhosis) and 11 primary biliary cirrhoses were investigated. Liver biopsy specimens were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were cut at 4-µm thickness and stained with chromotrope-aniline blue method and monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratin 7 and CD31. For each case, only one block obtained from the VIII hepatic segment has been randomly selected. Volume fractions of parenchymal compartment and fibrosis have been determined stereologically on CAB slices. On cytokeratin 7 stains, volume fractions of portal bile ducts, proliferated bile ductules and hepatocytes with biliary metaplasia have been measured while volume fractions of capillary units have been evaluated on CD31 slices . Results and Conclusions Volume fraction of fibrosis was higher in primary biliary cirrhosis when compared with posthepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis. Volume fractions describing parenchymal compartment showed a similar trend in both viral groups. The main differences were related to immunohistochemical stainings. Volume fraction of hepatocytes with biliary metaplasia was higher in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, whereas volume fractions of biliary structures were more prominent in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. Primary biliary cirrhosis was characterized by reduced number of bile ducts and by a wide range of expression of cytokeratin 7 in periportal hepatocytes. Capillary units were more prominent in primary biliary cirrhosis than in alcoholic and posthepatitic cirrhosis. Our computerized morphometric model well describes and quantifies the morphological alterations of the liver, and it could represent an adjunctive tool to evaluate the degree of dysplastic phenomena involving parenchymal and extraparenchymal components.

Computerized Morphometry in Liver Cirrhosis: Histological and Immunohistochemical Patterns / L. Vizzotto, M. Vertemati, M. Gambacorta, G. Sabatella, M. Goffredi, E. Minola - In: Liver cirrhosis: New Research / Nova Science Publishers, Inc. - New York : Wiley-Liss, 2004. - ISBN 1-59454-180-9. - pp. 97-112

Computerized Morphometry in Liver Cirrhosis: Histological and Immunohistochemical Patterns

L. Vizzotto
Primo
;
M. Vertemati
Secondo
;
M. Goffredi
Penultimo
;
2004

Abstract

Introduction Liver fibrosis and alterations of the normal lobular hepatic architecture are the hallmarks of liver cirrhosis. To assess the degree of fibrosis and the severity of the structural changes affecting parenchymal and extraparenchymal hepatic components in liver cirrhosis, a computerized morphometric model has been applied to liver specimens from patients undergoing liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis, posthepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis. Patients and Methods Fifty-two hepatectomy specimens from patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for cirrhosis were analyzed. Fifteen alcoholic, 26 posthepatitic (i.e. 12 HBV-related and 14 HCV-related cirrhosis) and 11 primary biliary cirrhoses were investigated. Liver biopsy specimens were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were cut at 4-µm thickness and stained with chromotrope-aniline blue method and monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratin 7 and CD31. For each case, only one block obtained from the VIII hepatic segment has been randomly selected. Volume fractions of parenchymal compartment and fibrosis have been determined stereologically on CAB slices. On cytokeratin 7 stains, volume fractions of portal bile ducts, proliferated bile ductules and hepatocytes with biliary metaplasia have been measured while volume fractions of capillary units have been evaluated on CD31 slices . Results and Conclusions Volume fraction of fibrosis was higher in primary biliary cirrhosis when compared with posthepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis. Volume fractions describing parenchymal compartment showed a similar trend in both viral groups. The main differences were related to immunohistochemical stainings. Volume fraction of hepatocytes with biliary metaplasia was higher in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, whereas volume fractions of biliary structures were more prominent in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. Primary biliary cirrhosis was characterized by reduced number of bile ducts and by a wide range of expression of cytokeratin 7 in periportal hepatocytes. Capillary units were more prominent in primary biliary cirrhosis than in alcoholic and posthepatitic cirrhosis. Our computerized morphometric model well describes and quantifies the morphological alterations of the liver, and it could represent an adjunctive tool to evaluate the degree of dysplastic phenomena involving parenchymal and extraparenchymal components.
Settore BIO/17 - Istologia
Settore BIO/16 - Anatomia Umana
2004
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/6933
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