Ground-Glass Hepatocytes in Unselected Liver Biopsies. Ultrastructure and Relationship to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

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Abstract
Unselected liver biopsies (400) were stained with aldehyde-thionin (AT) and examined for ground-glass hepatocytes (GGH). AT-positive GGH were found in .apprx. 1/2 of all HbsAg[hepatitis B surface antigen]-positive patients but were never seen in HBsAg-negative patients. AT-positive GGH were observed in healthy HBsAg carriers and in all forms of chronic hepatitis but never in acute HBsAg-positive hepatitis. AT-negative GGH were occasionally seen in HBsAg-negative patients under drug treatment. Ultrastructurally GGH showed proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum which only in AT-positive GGH contained filaments, 20-25 nm in diameter, within its cisternae.