Lee B. Moskowitz

Glomerular Lesions in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Between January 1982 and December 1983, 75 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were identified in our hospitals: 35% used intravenous drugs, 50% had proteinuria in excess of 0.5 g/dL, and 10% were nephrotic. Glomerular changes seen at autopsy in 36 patients included frequent mesangial lesions and deposits associated with mild asymptomatic proteinuria. Focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis was found in 5 patients and 4 of these had the nephrotic syndrome. Whereas reversible episodes of acute renal failure were not uncommon, terminal episodes of acute renal insufficiency occurred in 14 patients. The short survival of these patients may prevent the development of chronic renal failure.

Frequency and anatomic distribution of lymphadenopathic Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: An autopsy series

Histologic material from 52 autopsies of persons who had died of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reviewed. The study group included 23 Haitians, 19 homosexual men, five intravenous drug abusers, two hemophiliacs (type A), and three persons at unknown risk. Nineteen of the patients (36.5 per cent) had typical Kaposis sarcoma alone, but 49 (94.2 per cent) had the inflammatory variant of Kaposis sarcoma as well as typical Kaposis sarcoma. Inflammatory Kaposis sarcoma was found in all risk groups studied. In all cases of typical Kaposis sarcoma, histomorphologic transitions of inflammatory Kaposis sarcoma to typical Kaposis sarcoma were observed. Lymph nodes and spleen were the organs most commonly involved by both typical and inflammatory Kaposis sarcoma. The findings indicate that Kaposis sarcoma is more common and has a wider morphologic spectrum in AIDS than is generally appreciated.

Postmortem vitreous humor in fatal acute iron poisoning

The postmortem level of iron in the vitreous humor was assayed in a case of treated fatal iron poisoning. An antemortem serum iron level was 9060 micrograms/dL and postmortem blood level was 2920 micrograms/dL. A postmortem vitreous humor specimen collected by a standard technique had an iron level of 80 micrograms/dL whereas 23 controls had a mean of 12.8 +/- 4.2 micrograms/dL (range, 6 to 21 micrograms/dL). Although this elevated value could reflect some serum contamination, it may be a reflection of the toxic state.