Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections are major causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Histopathological examination of liver biopsies plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of these infections, providing insights into the disease severity and progression. This study aims to compare the histopathological features of liver biopsy specimens from patients infected with HBV and HCV to elucidate distinctive pathological manifestations associated with each virus. A total of 80 liver biopsy specimens (40HBV, 40 HCV) were retrospectively analyzed at a tertiary care center. The biopsies were evaluated for various histopathological features, including lobular inflammation, portal inflammation, fibrosis, steatosis and ballooning. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi‐square tests to compare the prevalence of these features between HBV and HCV specimens. Significant differences were observed between HBV and HCV in terms of portal inflammation (HBV 65%, HCV 35%., p=0.003), fibrosis (HBV 37.5%, HCV 62.5%., p=0.012), steatosis (HBV 30%, HCV 70%., p=0.0004) and ballooning (HBV 22.5%, HCV 77.5%., p=0.0001). HBV specimens showed a higher incidence of ground glass hypothecates, whereas HCV specimens were more likely to exhibit lymphoid aggregates, fatty change and higher degrees of fibrosis and steatosis. The study highlights significant histopathological differences between chronic hepatitis B and C, suggesting that these viruses have distinct impacts on liver pathology. Understanding these differences is critical for tailoring clinical management and improving treatment outcomes for patients with chronic hepatitis.
How to cite this article:
Ajay C. Chouthai, Santosh K. Kulkarni and Manjushree S. Kulkarni. Comparison of Histopathological Features in Chronic Hepatitis B and C: A Study on Liver Biopsy Specimens.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2025.2.146.150
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2025.2.146.150