Behaviour of immunohistochemically demonstrated HBV antigens in chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis in children
Borgiani, L.; Calzia, R.; Campelli, A.; Marazzi, M.G.; Piscopo, R.; Dorati, M.; Canepari, A.; Losurdo, G.; Canepa, M.
Pathologica 78(1057): 563-572
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2983 PMID: 3306588 Document Number: 272100
Pattern of HBV related antigens evaluated by immunohistochemical method in chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis in children. Liver biopsies from a group of 12 children with HBsAg positive chronic hepatitis were examined by immunoperoxidase technique for the presence of HBV related antigens (HBsAG, HBcAg, HDAg); 4 of the 5 children with chronic HDV infection were retrospectively analyzed by repeated biopsies. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in all cases but appeared to be expressed in a low number of hepatocytes. The HBcAg (core antigen) was found in 11 biopsies, one specimen resulted negative. The 4 children with chronic HDV infections were studied by repeated biopsies and showed HDAg positivity over the whole follow up period (mean: 3 years) without any remarkable variation in the number of the reacting nuclei (5%-40%). The immunohistological technique is a very good method for studying viral replication, giving useful additional data to evaluate the stages of chronic liver disease.