[The nature, properties and mechanism of formation of alcohol hyalin].

The term "alcohol hyalin" designates several types of acidophilic inclusions in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in acute alcoholic hepatitis. While similar material occurs in a number of non-alcoholic hepatopathies and extrahepatically, alcohol hyalin serves as an important marker of the alcohol-induced liver disease. Alcohol hyalin is mainly a protein material (fibrillar or granular) containing a number of polypeptides related to cytokeratin system, as well as some unique components. Its formation has multiple pathologic consequences including necrosis of hepatocytes, inflammatory processes in the liver resulting in cirrosis, and systemic autoimmune disorders. Three main hypotheses on mechanism of alcohol hyalin formation are discussed.