Renal lesions associated with cirrhosis of the liver in infancy and childhood.

Abstract

IT IS well documented that alterations occur in the glomeruli of adults with hepatic disease. Salomon et al,1in a superb study of renal biopsies by light, electron, and fluorescence microscopy, demonstrated glomerular lesions regardless of the duration or nature of liver damage. Similar changes are present in the kidneys of infants and children with cirrhosis. Materials and Methods The kidneys from 24 autopsy cases of cirrhosis of the liver in infancy and childhood were studied. The tissue was fixed in 10% neutral formaldehyde solution and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The PAS and Gomori trichrome stains were used for selected cases. The slides were examined by light microscopy. The clinical record and autopsy protocol of each case were reviewed. The patients (Table) ranged in age from 6 hours to 15 years. There were 11 boys and 13 girls. Seventeen were white, and seven, Negro. Alterations in renal function