Intracytoplasmic inclusions in human hepatocytes in non-A, non-B hepatitis: an ultrastructural study.
An ultrastructural study was carried out on 114 liver biopsies obtained for diagnostic purposes from patients with various pathological disorders of the liver including hepatitis B-related liver disease, non-A, non-B hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty change, and cryptogenic cirrhosis. The opportunity was taken to evaluate the significance of intracytoplasmic crystalline structures found in the hepatocytes of nine patients with a variety of liver disorders. The cytoplasmic inclusions varied in size up to 2 microns in length and shape and were not limited by membranes. The presence of these inclusions cannot, however, be correlated either specifically with non-A, non-B hepatitis or with other known nonviral liver disease. The functional, physiological, and pathological significance of the crystalline structures remain to be elucidated.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged