24927              DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

This 31 year old man had been a diabetic since the age of 6 years.  For 2 months before admission there had been increasing oedema of the limbs.  Tests showed heavy proteinuria with low serum albumin, elevated serum complement and chronic renal failure.   He also had bilateral bronchopneumonia and died after a cardiac arrest.

The kidney is large and pale with decreased corticomedullary demarcation and petechial haemorrhages.  Histology shows focal nodular hyaline areas in the glomeruli with basement membrane thickening and capsular deposits.  There is also evidence of pyelonephritis and glycogen accumulation in some of the tubular cells.