Nobel Medicus, vol.7, no.1, pp.23-28, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: Specific subcellular localization of HBsAg protein on ground glass hepatocytes (GGH) were shown to represent the different mutations on HBsAg encoding gene. This study aims to investigate the importance of GGH types as a novel factor that may correlate with other clinicopathological variables, as well as an indicator for progression and severity of the disease in patients with chronic HBV (CHB) infection. Material and Method: Liver biopsies from 54 patients with CHB infection were evaluated. Specific topographic distribution of HBsAg protein on hepatocytes was visualized with immunohistochemical method. GGH's were typed into two groups based on immunomorphological expression patterns. Results: There were 36 cases with GGH type 1, 14 with GGH type II and 4 cases with both types. Histological activity index(HAI) was minimal to absent (<1) in 12 cases (22%), was between 1-4 in 33 (61%) and was higher than 4 in 19 (35%) cases. High stage of fibrosis is strongly correlated with GGH type I (p<0.005). No significant correlation was observed between GGH types and other variables. Conclusion: Different types of GGH correspond to specific pre-S mutations with deletions on pre S1 and S2 regions. In addition to be an histological sign of chronic HBV infection, the types of GGH may represent an another parameter that may contribute to progression or regression of fibrosis in patients with CHB.