'Ground glass' hepatocytes

Abstract

'Ground glass' hepatocytes are liver cells which have eosinophilic granular, glassy cytoplasm on light microscopy. This appearance corresponds to a proliferated smooth endoplasmic reticulum ultrastructure. These changes may be drug induced or associated with hepatitis B antigenemia, particularly in carriers. In the latter case, hepatitis B antigen may be demonstrated in the liver cell cytoplasm with a modified orcein stain, by immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and immuno electron microscopy. Two patients are described in whom 'ground glass' hepatocytes were noted on liver biopsy. One patient had been treated with high doses of phenobarbitone, the other is a hepatitis B antigen carrier as was demonstrated by the modified orcein stain.