Intracytoplasmic inclusions in human hepatocytes in non‐A, non‐B hepatitis: An ultrastructural study

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Abstract
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 μm 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.