Orcein-positive liver deposits in Indian childhood cirrhosis.

A striking, previously unreported pattern of orcein-positive deposits attributed to excess copper-binding protein was found in liver-biopsy specimens from twelve cases of Indian childhood cirrhosis. A comparable picture was found only in biopsy specimens from patients with Wilson's disease. Deposits seen in about 20% of the two hundred and seventy-nine cases in various control groups, which were associated with prolonged cholestasis, were slight in comparison. This finding could have important therapeutic and pathogenic implications.