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Epithelioid cell granulomas in chronic hepatitis C: immunohistochemical character and histological marker of favourable response to interferon‐α therapy
Author(s) -
Harada K,
Minato H,
Hiramatsu K,
Nakanuma Y
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1998.00497.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pathology , immunohistochemistry , hepatitis , hepatitis c , epithelioid cell , granuloma , immunology
Aims : The clinicopathological significance of intrahepatic epithelioid cell granulomas in chronic hepatitis C was determined. Method and results Granulomatous lesions were surveyed in 542 liver biopsy specimens and were immunohistochemically examined. We also tested whether this lesion is a marker of response to interferon‐α therapy in chronic hepatitis C. Granulomatous lesions in hepatic lobules and/or portal tracts were identified in 11/542 (2%) cases with chronic hepatitis C. Granulomas were positive for HLA‐DR and β2‐microglobulin, and were surrounded by T‐cells. Among them, three chronic hepatitis C cases showed portal granulomas with mild biliary epithelial damage. Bile ducts showing mild epithelial damage in chronic hepatitis C were positive for β2‐microglobulin, but negative for HLA‐DR, while both antigens were frequently expressed in damaged bile ducts in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). All five cases of chronic hepatitis C with granulomas who had interferon‐α therapy and were followed up and were found to have responded well. Conclusion Granulomas showed the same immunohistochemical phenotypes, though the expression of HLA‐DR on bile ducts in PBC but not in chronic hepatitis C suggests a different pathogenesis. Granulomas may predict a favourable response to interferon‐α therapy in chronic hepatitis C.