Hepatitis Activity Index and its Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Liver Diseases- A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis Activity Index (HAI) is a scoring system devised by Ishak K et al., for grading and staging chronic hepatitis. The HAI provides a numerical score that is both objective and reproducible, it may be useful as either an alternative or supplement to the use of conventional pathological terminology in the study and management of chronic hepatitis patients. Aim: To assess the efficiency of HAI scoring in the non neoplastic liver diseases by relating it with the clinical and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from 2010 to 2015. A total of 57 (58%) neoplastic cases and 41 (42%) non neoplastic cases were retrieved. The data was reassessed, HAI score and grade was noted and compared with the clinical and biochemical parameters. Chronic liver disease was classified as chronic viral hepatitis {Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)} or cirrhosis. Alkaline phosphatase levels, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) levels , Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) levels were analysed. Descriptive analysis was done and the data was represented as frequency and percentage in Microsoft Excel. Results: Among the non neoplastic cases, 21 (51%) belonged to hepatitis and cirrhosis and 20 (49%) belonged to others. In patients with high alkaline phosphatase levels, the predominant HAI score was 4. In cases with high SGOT levels, the predominant HAI score was 5 and 6. In cases with high SGPT levels, the HAI score was 5,6, and 7. Conclusion: The HAI is useful in assessing the extent of active inflammation. It gives an objective guideline to the treating physician. The HAI score in combination with clinical and biochemical parameters offers a better insight into disease severity.