[Hepatitis B virus components and cytoplasmic virus-like corpuscles in chronic hepatitis (electron microscopic...

Author in the needle-biopsy specimen of the liver of a HBsAg positive patient previously treated with immunosupressive preparates (Corticosteroid + Imuran) in the nuclei of hepatocytes by the aid of electron microscope revealed ring-shaped particula of 20-25 nm in diameter (core), in the cytoplasma of ground-glass hepatocytes in the canals of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum filamentous formations in average of 23nm in diameter (surface antigen). In addition in a few number cytoplasmic core particula have also been revealed. Dane-particula were not seen. Further in the cytoplasma round or ring-shaped virus-like bodies of unknown origin of 80 nm in diameter were found. These particula could be easily distinguished from the Dane particula and from the B virus components (a second virus infection?). Author believe, that the immunsupressive therapy could play some role in the occurrence of the B virus components, since before the therapy with Imuran they could not be detected in the liver.