A case of liver cirrhosis with alpha-1-antitrypsin globules and hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity.
PAS staining, immunohistochemical examination and electron microscopy revealed presence of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) globules in the hepatocytes of a HBsAg and anti-HBc seropositive female patient diseased of liver cirrhosis. The possible causes of cirrhosis are briefly analysed and the diagnostic importance of PAS-positive, amylase-resistant hepatocellular inclusions is discussed. Apart from the case reported, only two of 509 cirrhotic livers of adults, examined either by biopsy or post mortem, demonstrated similar characteristic PAS-positive globules. This indicates that in the population group (135,000 persons) referred for health care to the hospital where the examinations were done, AAT deficiency has played a negligible role in the development of liver cirrhosis in adults.
D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin