LIVER LOBULE ARCHITECTURE AND FIBROSIS PATTERNS: AN ANATOMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE
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Keywords
chronic liver disease, fibrosis, liver lobule architecture, histopathology, pseudolobule formation, inflammatory infiltration, liver biopsy
Abstract
Objective: Chronic liver disease (CLD) leads to progressive structural changes in the liver, including fibrosis and lobular distortion. This study evaluates the histopathological alterations in liver lobule architecture and fibrosis patterns in CLD patients, correlating these changes with clinical and biochemical markers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bacha Khan Medical college affiliated with Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan from April 2023 to April 2024, including 84 patients diagnosed with CLD. Demographic details, clinical parameters, and laboratory findings were recorded. Liver biopsies were analyzed to assess fibrosis stage, inflammatory activity, and lobular architectural changes. Fibrosis was graded using the METAVIR scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between fibrosis severity and clinical markers.
Results: The majority of patients were between 30 and 50 years of age, with a higher prevalence in males. Obesity and diabetes showed significant associations with CLD progression. Histopathological evaluation revealed increasing lobular distortion and pseudolobule formation with advancing fibrosis. Inflammatory infiltration was observed in most cases, with periportal inflammation being the most common. Patients with severe fibrosis had significantly elevated ALT, AST, APRI, and FIB-4 scores. Signs of portal hypertension, including splenomegaly and esophageal varices, were more frequent in advanced fibrosis stages.
Conclusion: The study confirms that CLD leads to progressive architectural changes in the liver, which correlate with fibrosis severity. Liver biopsy remains a crucial tool for assessing histopathological patterns and guiding clinical management. Early identification of metabolic risk factors and routine monitoring of biochemical markers can aid in preventing disease progression.
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Dr. Amna Halima
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, Pakistan
Dr. Sumaira Javed
Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Dr. Asma Begum
Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Khyber Medical University Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat, Pakistan
Dr. Aisha Sadaf
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Khyber Medical University Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat, Pakistan
Dr. Nadira Hameed
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
Dr. Muhammad Tariq
Associate Professor, Department of Histopathology Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan