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Liver cell dysplasia in cirrhosis. A serologic and immunohistochemical study
Author(s) -
Roncalli Massimo,
Borzio Mauro,
De Biagi Giorgio,
Ferrari Angelo R.,
Macchi Roberto,
Tombesi Vittoria M.,
Servida Ernesto
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19860415)57:8<1515::aid-cncr2820570813>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - hbcag , cirrhosis , medicine , hbsag , hepatocellular carcinoma , serology , pathology , hepatitis b virus , immunohistochemistry , gastroenterology , dysplasia , hepatitis , hepatitis b , antibody , immunology , virus
Liver cell dysplasia (LCD) was investigated for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) and ferritin by serologic and immunohistochemical methods in 101 patients with cirrhosis. LCD was found in 30 cases (29.7%), with the highest incidence in cases of posthepatitic cirrhosis (67%). In the group of dysplastic cirrhosis (DC) 46.6% of the patients had active HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] serum positivity) compared with 7% of the patients with nondysplastic cirrhosis (NDC) ( P < 0.01). The mean serum AFP concentration was significantly raised in the DC group compared with that in the NDC group ( P < 0.05). In seven patients with LCD at the initial biopsy, the histologic follow‐up showed the persistence of LCD in all cases, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in three cases. In serologic HBsAg‐positive cases, dysplastic cells, at variance with the surrounding liver parenchyma, were almost always negative for tissue HBsAg, and always negative for tissue hepatitis B core antigens (HBcAg). AFP was never detected in either normal or dysplastic cells. Ferritin was found in all cases, but dysplastic foci displayed a lesser amount of this protein. These serologic and immunohistochemical data strongly suggest a preneoplastic significance of LCD. The importance of monitoring cirrhotic patients with LCD and particularly those with HBV infection and/or increased AFP levels with more aggressive follow‐up is also stressed. Cancer 57:1515–1521, 1986.