Interobserver variation in interpretation of serial liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C

Reliable and accurate assessment of liver histopathology in patients with chronic hepatitis C is important for decision regarding treatment and for evaluation of therapy. However, little data on interobserver variation have been published. In this study, five specialist histopathologists evaluated 46 liver biopsies from 20 patients treated with interferon-alpha. Knodell's and Ishak's scoring systems, De Groote's classification and a four level general necro-inflammatory activity score (GNAS) were applied. Besides kappa statistics, slide by slide analysis was performed. We defined an acceptable slide by slide agreement as eight of ten observer pairs agreed on 80% of the slides. The best agreement was seen for Knodell's and Ishak's fibrosis score, De Groote's classification and GNAS (mean weighted kappa (kappa(w)) = 0.49, 0.51, 0.50 and 0.44, respectively). By condensing data from Knodell's and Ishak's scores to presence or absence of cirrhosis and piecemeal necrosis respectively, concordance was substantial concerning cirrhosis (mean kappa = 0.69 and 0.72, respectively) but only moderate concerning piecemeal necrosis (mean kappa = 0.40 and 0.39, respectively). Slide by slide analysis showed the highest agreement on Knodell's fibrosis score and GNAS; only one point of difference in score was to be accepted to obtain 'eight of ten' agreement. In contrast, five points of difference were necessary to accept in order to reach the same agreement for Knodell's total activity score. Moreover, in serial biopsies the GNAS was sufficient to detect changes in disease activity following treatment. Thus, a simple scoring system with four category scales was reproducible and sufficient for detection of therapy induced changes.