Apoptosis in chronic viral hepatitis parallels histological activity: an immunohistochemical investigation using anti-activated caspase-3 and M30 cytodeath antibody.

Apoptosis is implicated as a major pathogenic mechanism in chronic hepatitis B and C. Previous studies of the relationship between apoptotic rates and histological necroinflammatory activity have produced conflicting results. Hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed in liver tissue from 32 cases of chronic viral hepatitis, seven cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and six cases of steatohepatitis as non-viral disease controls and eight cases of control liver.