Fractal analysis of extracellular matrix for observer-independent quantification of intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease.

ABSTRACT: Prevention of intestinal fibrosis remains an unresolved problem in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), as specific antifibrotic therapies are not yet available. Appropriate analysis of fibrosis severity is essential for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of potential antifibrotic drugs. The aim of this study was to develop an observer-independent method to quantify intestinal fibrosis in surgical specimens from patients with CD using structural analysis of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We performed fractal analysis in fibrotic and control histological sections of patients with surgery for CD (n = 28). To specifically assess the structure of the collagen matrix, polarized light microscopy was used. A score to quantify collagen fiber alignment and the color of the polarized light was es

SUBMITTER: Weber MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10874456 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature