Can anyone read this biopsy?

[Guest guest]

I have not had a chance to talk to my doctor yet, with the holidays

and all.....can anyone tell me what they think this means? This is my

fourth biopsy in 6 years and this one is for a transplant evaluation.

Diagnosis: Chronic Hepatitis Grade 3/4 Stage 3/4

While the inflammatory cell infiltrate contains many plasma cells,

there are also some eosinophils present. Although there seems to be

bile duct and hepatocyte attack, no endothelialitis is seen. The

findings are compatible with autoimmune hepatitis in the appropriate

clinical setting however, the inflammatory cell infiltrate is

unusually extensive and diffuse for that diagnosis. In

situ:hybridization for EB virus will be performed in order to rule

out a lymphoproliferative disorder.

Core needle biospy of liver displays and extensive mixed mononuclear

cell infiltrate that markedly expands the portal tracts and extends

out into the lobular parenchyma as well as involving the lobular

parenchyma and multiple foci. Trichrome stain reveals fibrous

expansion of the protal tracts with focal bridging, but central veins

are present and the overall architecture, while distorted, does not

suggest cirrhosis. Reticulin stain confirms these findings. Iron

stain is negative. Within portal tracts, there are several foci of

involvment of bile ducts by the inflammatory cell infiltrate but bile

ducts are overall present in adecquate numbers. Lobular areas with

inflammatory cell infiltrate show focal destruction of hepatocytes,

but no ballooning degeneration is seen.

[Guest guest]

To all who answered my e mail......first let me say thank you, I got some really good answers and advise! I remember back in 1996 I was first a member of this group (just diagnosed) it always was such a helpful source of good information. Seems over the years I learned more from others in the same situation than from the doctors! Of course the answers I receive (and we all receive) are always taken with the knowledge that this is a "support group" NOT made up of doctors...just people like me who have "been there, done that"....we always have to remember we are our own best advocates......no doctor will care as much about our health as we do......so we must research and become as educated as possible so when we talk to our doctors we have the right questions to ask.....and get second and third opinions when appropriate.........so that being said, please have no fear of "liability" when helping me!

I am going through a transplant evaluation at UTHSC in San

Texas....I am originally from New York and moved to Texas 3 yrs ago to be near family in the event we progress to tx.....it's important to have a strong support system around you and both my sisters and their families live here.

....I have had 4 biopsies since 1998......last one (before this one) was 2 yrs

ago......I will find out today if it is worse or the same or even possibly BETTER! (MY vote is for better!)

I have AIH. My husband has offered to and been cleared to be my living donor.....odd since we are opposit in every way but he is a match and went through a gammut of testing and was found to be perfectly healthy 6ft tall and 180 lbs....we are so surprised .........we are both 41...of course we do NOT want to tx unless absoluetly necessary so I am thinking this biopsy might be a life saver for me......the tx surgeon said in Oct. "Ok we know 2 things, 1 you have cirrhosis and 2 you need a transplant......and with living donor you want to do it before you get too sick" Then the hepatologist said WAIT! Are we SURE she has cirrhosis?? So he asked me to agree to another biopsy which I gladly agreed to in the hopes it would prevent me form having to have a transplant. And of course I don't want my husband to go through this either!

So today I will speak to them about the results......IF they are not all on vacation

I am glad to be back.

Tammy

[Guest guest]

Tammy..... you never wrote to tell us what the doctors said when you

went have your Bx nterpreted for you,Monday. So what's the deal? Are

you going to live or what?

love jerry