Occurrence and significance of Mallory bodies in morbidly obese patients. An immunohistochemical study

Liver biopsies from 61 consecutive patients with morbid obesity (less than 60% overweight) and from 48 patients with alcoholic liver disease were examined for the presence of Mallory bodies. For the detection both routine haematoxylin and eosin stained sections and sections exposed to an immunohistochemical technique were employed. The latter uses an antiserum which recognizes antigenic determinants in Mallory bodies. Using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Mallory bodies were not detected in any of the biopsies from the obese patients, but found to be present in 63% of the patients with alcoholic liver disease. Using the immunohistochemical technique, Mallory bodies were found in the liver of 2 obese patients (3%) and in 36 patients with alcoholic liver disease (75%). None of the Mallory body positive obese patients showed signs of diabetes mellitus, cholestasis or hypocholesterolemia, but both patients admitted previous excessive alcohol consumption. It is concluded that the immunohistochemical detection of Mallory bodies is more sensitive than routine staining. Further, Mallory bodies are rare findings in livers of obese patients and may be related to excessive alcohol consumption.