4419                KIDNEY, HAEMOSIDEROSIS

This patient had haemolytic jaundice and haemolytic anaemia necessitating frequent blood transfusion over a long period.  The old catalogue states that there was frequently donor incompatibility.

The specimen shows portions of each kidney measuring 9 cms in length.  The surface is smooth and the capsule is not thickened.  On the cut surface the cortex is of normal thickness but shows uniform brown discolouration.  The medullary pyramids are pale but appear normal.  The right-hand portion originally showed the Prussian blue reaction from treatment with potassium ferrocyanide, but the colour has now greatly faded.