Ferritin in Crohn's disease tissue: detection by electron microscopy.

Using immune electron microscopy, an attempt has been made to visualise viral particles in Crohn's disease tissue and faeces. No particles resembling viruses were observed, but in the absence of a specific antiserum a negative result does not exclude the presence of a virus, particularly if it is sparsely distributed. Compared with controls, an abundance of a 12 nm particle was found in all Crohn's disease tissue and one small intestinal lymphoma. This particle has been identified as ferritin and is unlikely to be of aetiological significance.