[Histotopographic demonstration of hepatitis-B-surface-antigen (HBSAg) in liver-biopsies with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP)-method in symptomfree HBSAg-carriers].

In 241 paraffin-embedded liver-biopsies of HBSAg-positive, voluntary blood-donors hepacellular HBSAg was demonstrated with the immunomorphologic peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP)-method. In all sections, HBSAg-positive liver-cells were estimated, their distribution-pattern was assessed and different types of cytoplasmatic localisation of HBSAg were described. Despite high sensitivity of the PAP-method, 24% of seropostive cases were histologically negative. A correlation of HBSAg-content and histologic diagnosis was lacking. An association of high HBSAg-content with non-aggressive liver-disease and of low HBSAg-content with aggressive liver-disease in a single biopsy could not be found in our material in contrast to the literature. 34 patients were followed up through 4-6 years. Constant or improved liver-histology was associated with increased, deterioration with decreased HBSAg-tissue-content.