[The ultrastructural pathology of chronic hepatitis C]

Electron microscopy of 36 liver biopsies from patients of post-transfusion chronic hepatitis C was carried out. All of the cases were confirmed beforehand through histological examination and serological tests including identification with anti-HCV antibody. No ultrastructural changes identical with those described in experimentally induced hepatitis C were detected, though some ultrastructural alterations, not pathognomonic, did occur in the hepatocellular cytoplasm. Prominent proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum was frequently found, notably in cases of chronic persistent hepatitis, and rough endoplasmic reticulum associating with distended cisternae filled with light fluffy material, occasionally forming curved membraned structure in the cisternae were also noticed. Intercellular and perisinusoidal fibrosis, as well as invasion of lymphocytes into Disse and intercellular spaces, nevertheless, without concomitant liver cell injury in the immediate vicinity were noted in the study.