Kidney biopsy findings and renal symptoms of chronic carbon disulfide intoxication

초록

Carbon disulfide (CS2), a volatile gas used in the synthesis of viscose rayon, is a neurotoxin and has an atherogenic effect on the vascular system. The vascular effect was regarded as a cause of renal impairment. We report the renal symptoms of chronic CS2 intoxication based on renal biopsy specimens. 1) A total of 16 subjects, 10 males and 6females, with a history of working at a rayon factory were examined. The mean age was 46 yrs (38—51 yrs) and the exposure duration was 12.6 yrs (6—18 yrs). 2) Of the total 16 cases, 9 patients had a history of hypertension with proteinuria of 1.7 g to 2.9 g/day and one patient had an impaired glucose tolerance test. 3) Among the patients with azotemia, two had diffuse and nodular intercapillary glomemlar sclerosis, hyaline arteriosclerosis, tubular atrophy and tubulointerstitial nephritis under light microscopy. In the same patients, focal deposits of 1gM, C3 and C4 on glomeruli and vessel walls were noted on immunofluorescence microscopy. Intercapillary glomerulosclerosis with severe tubulointerstitial nephritis was also noted in one patient without azotemia and hypertension. In 7 cases, the basement membranes were significantly thicker, with a mean of 764 nm (520—1190 nm), than the normal thickness (328.8 nm) under electron microscopy (P < 0.01).