Ultrastructural abnormalities of the liver in total lipodystrophy

The morphology of the liver of a child with total lipodystrophy is presented. Prominent changes include fat deposition, aberrant mitochondrial forms, and an apparent increase in peroxisomes with aberrant morphology. (The latter lack terminal plates and instead have dense matrix granules.) Increased collagen formation is noted; a potential relationship between the increased and aberrant peroxisomes and abnormal lipid metabolism is suggested.