In order to more objectively evaluate the degree of the fibrosis in the primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), we measured the collagen fibers in the liver using the image analysis system quantitatively (% liver fibrosis).
The % liver fibrosis increased with the progress of stage in the Ludwig's classification, and was significant difference between each stage.
The % liver fibrosis also showed significant positive correlation at GPT, T-bil, 7S, ICG R 15 and platelets levels. The cases with reddish maker on the liver surface and piecemeal necrosis in liver histology showed significantly higher numbers of % liver fibrosis than negative cases.
In the follow-up cases the % liver fibrosis increased accompanying the progress of clinical stage.
We concluded that the % liver fibrosis showed good correlation with clinical stage of PBC, and it was important to assess the progression of the clinical stage by measuring the degree of the fibrosis in PBC.
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