Abstract

Twelve of sixteen consecutive needle biopsies of liver with either acute or chronic hepatitis showed positive immunohistochemical staining for alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT). Only two of the positive biopsies contained numerous, large periodic acid-Schiff positive, diastase resistant (PAS-D) globules in periportal hepatocytes; both patients were Pi MZ but only one had a low serum AAT concentration. The other 15 patients had normal or elevated serum AAT. The accumulation of AAT in hepatocytes, demonstrated by sensitive immunohistochemical staining, may indicate increased synthesis and/or impaired secretion of AAT occurring in association with various types of hepatitis.

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