hyaline droplets in Kupffer cell

Pediatric autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is relatively common and has a characteristic but relatively nonspecific histopathology with a usually prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate.

Hhyaline droplets in Kupffer cells on routine H&E sections should be distinguished from the non-specific granular lysosomal structures frequently found in Kupffer cells in a variety of chronic liver diseases and from erythrophagocytosis.

Hyaline droplets may occur in AIH regardless of the type and correlate with a >2-fold increase in serum level of IgG as compared with patients without droplets in their biopsies.

Identification of hyaline droplets in Kupffer cells provides a useful diagnostic clue to distinguish AIH from other forms of chronic hepatitis.

References

 Hyaline Droplets in Kupffer Cells: A Novel Diagnostic Clue for Autoimmune Hepatitis. Tucker SM, Jonas MM, Perez-Atayde AR. Am J Surg Pathol. 2015 Jan 28. PMID: 25634746