Korean J Pathol.  2004 Oct;38(5):337-340.

An Unusual Type of Acute Renal Failure due to Extensive Crystal Deposition in the Renal Tubular Epithelium and Interstitium: A Case Report

• Koo JS
• Shin E
• Kang SW
• Jeong HJ

Abstract

Acute tubular necrosis is a major cause of acute renal failure. Acute renal failure that is caused by crystal deposition can result from drug toxicity, lymphoplasmacytic neoplasms, ingestion of industrial organic solvents, or intratubular obstruction due to degenerated red blood cells and red blood cell casts. We herein present an uncommon case of acute renal failure in a 57-year-old woman showing an unusually massive accumulation of variable-sized, round, ellipsoid or rhomboid, pale-pink, refractile bodies in the proximal and distal tubular epithelial cells, interstitial macrophages and Bowman's spaces. These bodies were electron dense with a maximum diameter of 3 micrometer. The information we gathered from the patient history, the laboratory data and the various histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses failed to reveal the exact nature of these crystal-like structures.

Keyword

Kidney Failure; Acute-Kidney Tubular Necrosis; Acute-Crystal-like Structures

MeSH Terms

Acute Kidney Injury*
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Eating
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium*
Erythrocytes
Female
Humans
Macrophages
Middle Aged
Necrosis
Renal Insufficiency
Solvents
Solvents