Ground Glasslike Hepatocytes Produced by Glycogen-Membrane Complexes (“Glycogen Bodies”)

A 54-year-old man developed liver disease 11 months after renal transplantation. Liver biopsy demonstrated hepatitis with numerous periodic acid-Schiff-positive, diastase-sensitive ground glass inclusions in parenchymal cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the inclusions consisted of parallel arrays of smooth surfaced cisternae separated by glycogen rosettes ("glycogen bodies"). The differential diagnosis of ground glass hepatocytes, the occurrence of glycogen bodies, and the possible etiological factors in the patient's liver disease are discussed.