The Pi Z allele and hepatic alpha 1-antitrypsin globules in patients with secondary liver cancer.

To evaluate the frequency of false positive globular inclusions, 89 autopsy cases with various malignancies and liver metastases have been examined by immunoperoxidase staining of liver sections and isoelectric focusing of sera. Four subjects with AAT globules in their hepatocytes were found, all of whom had the Pi Z phenotype. Globular inclusions were not found in any subject lacking the Pi Z allele on isoelectric focusing, but in 3 subjects with the Pi Z phenotype no hepatocytic globules were found.