[Immunohistochemical study of hepatitis E virus antigen in liver tissues from patients with type E hepatitis]

Hepatitis E virus antigen (HEV Ag) has been identified in liver tissues of 6 out of 14 patients with type E hepatitis by direct immunoperoxidase staining, using anti-HEV-IgG-HRP. HEV Ag was found to be diffusive or inclusive in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes were scattered and isolated, but might aggregate in some parts where the liver damage was severe. We found that lymphocyte invaded the HEV Ag positive hepatocyte. These phenomena suggest that the liver damage is related to immunoreaction. HEV Ag was not found in the liver tissues of stillborn fetus and newborn baby from woman patients with hepatitis E. To detect HEV Ag in liver with direct immunoperoxidase method, using anti-HEV-IgG-HRP is more efficient than using anti-HEV-IgM-HRP.