Reproducibility of the Knodell histologic activity index in the evaluation of chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Biopsies from 60 serologically confirmed chronic hepatitis C cases were independently evaluated by three pathologist and Knodell histologic activity indexes were determined, study was repeated two months later. Both interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility were assessed using kappa statistics. Both interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of the individual parameters forming the Knodell histologic activity index was found to be low. It is concluded that Knodell histologic activity index should be revised to increase reproducibility.