Objective Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common in Asia and Africa with unclear mechanism. In our previous study, we found that the deposition of immune complex on vascular wall and vascular...Objective Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common in Asia and Africa with unclear mechanism. In our previous study, we found that the deposition of immune complex on vascular wall and vascular injury were related to the HCC rupture. In this study, the structure of elastin around the small artery was deeply investigated to confirm our previous study. Methods Immunohistochemical technique and transmission electron microscopy were used to study 23 specimens from ruptured HCC and 30 cases of nonruptured HCC. Results The layer of elastin around the vascular wall was significant thicker in patients with ruptured HCC than that in nonruptured HCC. The proliferation of elastin, abnormal distribution of neutrophil elastase and degradation of collagen fibril were predominantly present in the specimens from ruptured HCC. The phenomenon of electron—dense deposit in the elastic lamina that represented the deposition of immune complex, and the signs of infiltrated neutrophils from bloodstream into the vascular wall that caused the vascular injury, also can be found in ruptured HCC. Since the damaged vessels could become stiff and weak, which would more prone to be splitting and results in hemorrhage and the rupture of HCC, we postulated that the preexisting of immune complex deposition and vascular injury may be relate to the ruptured HCC. Conclusion The vascular injury caused by immune complex deposition might relate to ruptured HCC. Key words hepatocellular carcinoma - rupture - elastin - elastase展开更多
文摘Objective Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common in Asia and Africa with unclear mechanism. In our previous study, we found that the deposition of immune complex on vascular wall and vascular injury were related to the HCC rupture. In this study, the structure of elastin around the small artery was deeply investigated to confirm our previous study. Methods Immunohistochemical technique and transmission electron microscopy were used to study 23 specimens from ruptured HCC and 30 cases of nonruptured HCC. Results The layer of elastin around the vascular wall was significant thicker in patients with ruptured HCC than that in nonruptured HCC. The proliferation of elastin, abnormal distribution of neutrophil elastase and degradation of collagen fibril were predominantly present in the specimens from ruptured HCC. The phenomenon of electron—dense deposit in the elastic lamina that represented the deposition of immune complex, and the signs of infiltrated neutrophils from bloodstream into the vascular wall that caused the vascular injury, also can be found in ruptured HCC. Since the damaged vessels could become stiff and weak, which would more prone to be splitting and results in hemorrhage and the rupture of HCC, we postulated that the preexisting of immune complex deposition and vascular injury may be relate to the ruptured HCC. Conclusion The vascular injury caused by immune complex deposition might relate to ruptured HCC. Key words hepatocellular carcinoma - rupture - elastin - elastase
