Hepatitis B surface antigen in hepatocytes at necropsy

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Pathology

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Accurate detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in liver tissue is crucial for diagnosis and prognosis.
• Previous methods for HBsAg detection in tissue have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin stain for detecting HBsAg in liver cells.
• To correlate tissue-based HBsAg detection with serum HBsAg levels.

Main Methods:

• Investigated 70 cases of cirrhosis and HCC, and 43 controls without primary liver disease.
• Utilized Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin stain on liver tissue obtained at necropsy.
• Correlated tissue findings with serum HBsAg levels determined by radioimmunoassay and hemagglutination tests.

Main Results:

• Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin stain demonstrated HBsAg in liver cells in a high percentage of cases.
• Over 90% correlation was observed between HBsAg detection in liver tissue and serum levels.
• The stain proved effective across patient groups, including those with cirrhosis, HCC, and no primary liver disease.

Conclusions:

• Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin stain is a reliable diagnostic tool for detecting HBsAg in liver tissue.
• This staining method provides results that correlate well with serological tests for HBsAg.
• The stain is valuable for diagnosing HBV-related liver conditions, including cirrhosis and HCC.