1980 Volume 21 Issue 10 Pages 1358-1365
A case with cytoplasmic inclusions composed of blood plasma elements was reported. The patient was 9-year-old boy, who showed splenomegaly and esophageal varices with portal hypertension.
Light microscopic examination of the biopsied liver revealed cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions in marked swelling hepatocytes. The inclusions were numerously scattered throughout liver lobules, mostly round in shape, variable in size, measuring 3μ to 20μ in diameter, and positive for diastase rcsistent PAS.
It revcaled that most of the inclusions were positive for such blood plasma components as albumin, IgG, IgM, IgA, transferrin and fibrinogen by immunoperoxidase method. These inclusions are usually observed in the state of increase of intrasinusoidal blood pressure. Sclerosis of central vein and perisinusoidal fibrosis also noted. Thus, it was postulated that portal hypertension of this case was caused mainly by increase of intrasinusoidal blood pressure.
To our knowledge, the present case represents the first report in which the exact nature of cytoplasmic blood plasma inclusions in human hepatocytes has been demonstrated by the technique of the immunoperoxidase method.
