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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4335-4340
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4335
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4335
Pediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: The first report on the ultrastructure of hepatocyte mitochondria
Joanna M Lotowska, Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15269 Bialystok, Poland
Maria E Sobaniec-Lotowska, Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15269 Bialystok, Poland
Sylwia B Bockowska, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Bialystok Oncology Center, 15027 Bialystok, Poland
Dariusz M Lebensztejn, Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15274 Bialystok, Poland
Author contributions: Sobaniec-Lotowska ME and Lotowska JM contributed equally to this work; Sobaniec-Lotowska ME, Lotowska JM, Bockowska SB and Lebensztejn DM designed the research and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Maria E Sobaniec-Lotowska, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona Street 13, 15269 Bialystok, Poland. maria.sobaniec-lotowska@umb.edu.pl
Telephone: +48-85-7485940 Fax: +48-85-7485990
Received: August 21, 2013
Revised: December 2, 2013
Accepted: January 2, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Revised: December 2, 2013
Accepted: January 2, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Our electron-microscopic analysis of liver bioptates, being the first known investigation into pediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), revealed characteristic repetitive mitochondrial abnormalities within hepatocytes, mainly mitochondrial polymorphism in the form of megamitochondria, loss of cristae, and the presence of linear crystalline inclusions within the mitochondrial matrix of increased electron density, frequently accompanied by foamy cytoplasm. As the discovery of these morphological indices of hepatocyte injury may be very useful in the diagnosis of NASH in pediatric patients, the ultrastructural analysis of liver biopsy can be recommended as an effective diagnostic method.