Geoffrey Kent

Liver damage in heatstroke

The effects of heatstroke on the structure and function of the liver have been studied in thirty-nine Bantu gold miners. Hepatocellular damage was found to be invariable. In a minority of patients (about 10 per cent) the liver damage was severe and may have contributed to a fatal outcome. In the remainder it was mild or moderate and could be detected only on biochemical testing or liver biopsy. The pathologic changes consisted of centrolobular degeneration or necrosis of hepatocytes and congestion; cholestasis and portal venular dilatation were prominent in the fatal cases. In the patients who survived, the histologic and biochemical abnormalities were completely reversible. It is suggested that the hepatic changes are the result of a combination of hypoxia and direct thermal injury.

Non-membrane enclosed intramitochondrial dense bodies☆

Abstract Large intramitochondrial dense bodies of irregular shape and without limiting membranes were observed during the ethionine intoxication in rats. Sodium or potassium deficiencies superimposed upon the ethionine injury had no effect on the occurrence of these bodies, while hypoxic conditions caused a considerable increase. The dense bodies are considered to be responses to severe though non-specific cellular injuries. They appear to be derived, at least in part, from altered groups of cristae.