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Physiological hepatic nuclear vacuolation—how long does it persist?
Author(s) -
Levene Adam P,
Goldin Robert D
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03501.x
Subject(s) - histopathology , pathology , fatty liver , liver biopsy , biopsy , liver disease , hepatitis , disease , biology , medicine
Levene A P & Goldin R D
(2010) Histopathology 56 , 426–429 Physiological hepatic nuclear vacuolation—how long does it persist? Aims: Nuclear vacuolation\glycogenation is a characteristic histological feature of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can help distinguish it from alcohol‐induced liver disease. There are, however, other associations of nuclear vacuolation of which the commonest is as a normal feature of childhood. The aim of this study was to identify how long this physiological nuclear vacuolation persists. Methods and results: Liver biopsy specimens from 872 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (a condition known not to be associated with nuclear vacuolation) were studied to assess the frequency of nuclear vacuolation at different ages. All the patients studied had a body mass index of <25 kg/m 2 and an alcohol intake of <15 units/week, as well as no other risk factors for liver disease. It was found that the frequency of nuclear vacuolation, in the absence of NAFLD, fell from 13% at age 20–24 years to 4% in the early 30s and to 0% at age 60–64 years. Conclusions: Physiological hepatic nuclear vacuolation is common in the 20s and persists into the 30s. This knowledge can help in the assessment of liver biopsy specimens in which nuclear vacuolation is a feature.