Profile of liver biopsies in a tertiary care centre in coastal eastern India

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of liver biopsies in a tertiary referral centre in eastern India. A total of 54 patients over a period of 1 year, diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological parameters, were evaluated for aetiology. Investigations included serological tests for the markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Autoimmune markers, including antinuclear antibody (ANA), antismooth muscle antibody (ASMA) and antimitochondrial antibody (AMA-M2), were carried out where clinically indicated. Histopathological study with routine haematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain and special stains, including Masson’s trichrome and reticulin stain, were carried out. A total of 24 (46%) patients had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 18 (34%) patients had chronic viral hepatitis and 10 (20%) patients had other liver disorders. HBV was present in 16 (88.2%) cases and HCV in 2 (11.8%) cases in the category of clinically chronic viral hepatitis patients. None had infection with both viruses. Cholestatic liver disease, cirrhosis and amyloidosis were the aetiological factors, amongst others. Biopsy was inadequate in two cases. This study showed NAFLD, closely followed by HBV infection, as the most common cause of liver disease in the study population. Alcoholics were excluded from the study. The study reflects the referral pattern in a tertiary centre. However, larger and longer studies are required to delineate the exact prevalence of liver disease in this geographical area