• Mayson Abu Raya, Amir Klein, Edmond Sabo, Afif Yaccob, Yaacov Baruch, Johad Khoury, and Tarek Saadi.
• Liver Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, affiliated with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
• Isr Med Assoc J. 2020 May 1; 22 (5): 320-325.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Several viral and host factors related to viral response have been reported in the era of treatment with pegylated (PEG)-interferon and ribavirin.ObjectivesTo quantify histological findings from patients with chronic HCV using computerized morphometry and to investigate whether the results can predict response to medical treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin.MethodsWe followed 58 patients with chronic HCV infection with METAVIR score F1 and F2 in our liver unit who were grouped according to treatment response sustained viral response (SVR) and non-SVR. Liver needle biopsies from these patients were evaluated and histological variables, such as inflammatory cells, collagen fibers and liver architecture, were quantified using computerized morphometrics. The pathologist who performed the histomorphometric analysis was blinded to previous patient clinical and histological information.ResultsHistomorphometric variables including the density of collagen fibers were collected. The number of inflammatory cells in the portal space and textural variable were found to be statistically significant and could be used together in a formula to predict response to treatment, with a sensitivity of 93% and a 100% specificity.ConclusionsHistomorphometry may help to predict a patient's response to treatment at an early stage.

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