Immunohistochemical detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver biopsies of hepatitis C patients.

OBJECTIVE Immunohistochemical detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver biopsies of hepatitis C patients and to find its association with the histological parameters of grading and staging. METHODS This was a prospective study based on liver biopsies of hepatitis C patients. Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) stained slides were examined to determine the histological activity, and fibrosis score. The HCV NS3 antigen was detected with Immunohistochemical technique using monoclonal antibody against HCV NS3 protein. RESULTS Cases which had a positive immunoreactivity for HCV- NS3 were 47 (94%). A total of 29 (58%) cases had shown grade 3 positivity for HCV-NS3 immunostaining; out of which, 16 cases had grade 3 necroinflammatory activity and 8 cases had fibrosis to the extent of cirrhosis (P<0.05). Out of the total 3 (6%) cases with negative immunoreactivity for HCV-NS3, 2 cases had grade 1 activity and all of these 3 patients had minimal fibrosis amounting to stage 1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION There is a positive association between HCV immunopositivity and the histological parameters of grading and staging, suggesting that greater amounts of virus are present in more advanced chronic liver disease.