[Indirect immunoperoxidase method using a monoclonal antibody and clinico-pathological examination of non-A, non-B...

For the purpose of diagnosing non-A, non-B hepatitis, an indirect immunoperoxidase method using the monoclonal antibody 48-1 was carried out. Human liver biopsy specimens of 74 cases with various hepatic diseases containing non-A, non-B hepatitis were investigated by using optical microscopy. Moreover, cases with non-A, non-B hepatitis were clinico-pathologically examined. Peroxidase-positive hepatocytes were found in 13 cases of the 74 cases. The thirteen cases were as follows; 8 cases with acute hepatitis (non-A, non-B type), 2 cases with chronic hepatitis (non-A, non-B type), 2 cases with acute hepatitis (B type), 1 case with chronic hepatitis (B type). The frequency of positive peroxidase staining was high (80%) in acute hepatitis (non-A, non-B type), but it was not significant statistically. On histological examination, acidophilic condensation was frequently seen in liver specimens of cases with acute hepatitis (non-A, non-B type). Furthermore, the correlation between acidophilic condensation and peroxidase positive staining was statistically seen. It is suggested that the peroxidase staining by using monoclonal antibody 48-1 is useful for diagnosis of acute hepatitis (non-A, non-B type).