An electron microscopic study of liver in hepatomegaly presumably caused by amebiasis

Liver biopsis from six patients with hepatomegaly presumably due to amebiasis, and one healthy subject were studied by light and electron microscopy. Electron microscopic observations suggested parenchymal damage. Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum were the principal targets of injury. Paracrystalline, filamentous, and tubular inclusions were observed in the matrices of large and bizzarre shaped mitochondria in five of the six patients. The endoplasmic reticulum was dilated and hypertrophied in all cases. No amebae or virus associated with amebae were observed. Light microscopic changes were mild and nonspecific. These findings suggest that the hepatomegaly is likely to be due to active regeneration of the liver cells following parenchymal injury of a nonspecific nature.