Investigations on beta-glucuronidase-positive erythrocytic inclusions.

Novel erythrocytic inclusion bodies, characterized by strong beta-glucuronidase activity, are described. Their physicochemical properties differ substantially from those of known inclusion bodies and they are mainly observed in patients with liver damage. Since these inclusions occur almost exclusively in erythrocytes, the intraerythrocytic beta-glucuronidase must originate from an extraerythrocytic source, perhaps entering erythrocytes via a receptor-mediated endocytotic pathway.