Liver fibrosis quantified by image analysis in methotrexate-treated patients with psoriasis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Histopathologic monitoring of the liver is mandatory during methotrexate (MTX) treatment. Fibrosis is an important histologic feature of liver damage. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to supply an independent measure to histopathologic grading of hepatic changes in MTX-treated patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Forty-six liver biopsy specimens from 26 patients with psoriasis evaluated for or treated with MTX were histopathologically classified and their collagen content quantified by image analysis after staining with Sirius Red F3BA. RESULTS: Fibrosis in normal liver biopsy specimens (controls) amounted to 0.9% +/- 0.1% and in patients with psoriasis varied between 9.3% +/- 1.4% and 24.0% +/- 4.9%. An effect of MTX on liver fibrosis was not discerned. No correlation was obtained between fibrosis and histologic grades, intake of alcohol, lean tissue mass, or age of the patient. CONCLUSION: Two changes occurred in the psoriatic liver; the collagen content was increased at least tenfold when compared with controls, and significant heterogeneity in collagen content was present among patients (p < 0.001).