Immuno-light and electron microscopic features of chronic hepatitis D.
A morphologic study with immunohistochemical detection of the viral antigens of hepatitis B and Delta was performed on 36 liver specimens from patients with delta positive chronic viral hepatitis B. Electron microscopy was performed in 9 cases. No light microscopic or ultrastructural features specific for hepatitis D were observed. Lymphocytic infiltration occurred more often close to hepatocytes containing either hepatitis Delta antigen or hepatitis B core antigen in the cytoplasm, suggesting an involvement of cellular immune mechanisms in chronic hepatitis D as well as in hepatitis B. The simultaneous expression of both HBcAg and Delta antigen in occasional specimens over longer time periods indicates the possible co-existence of both viruses without mutual inhibition.
Kojima
T
T
Second Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Callea
F
F
Desmyter
J
J
Sakurai
I
I
Desmet
V J
VJ
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; C442244:hepatitis delta virus large antigen