Chronic nephropathy induced by prolonged administration of an alcoholic beverage. Recovery experiments. ∗

Abstract

Conclusions

1. The chronic renal injury in dogs following the use of the alcoholic distillate when sufficient time is allowed for the development of processes of repair, consists in a type of glomerulonephropathy, characterized by the obliteration of the capillary loop by a large type of connective tissue forming cell. The capsule of the glomerulus does not participate in the reaction. The epithelial cells in the various portions of the tubule appear normal.

2. Following the glomerular injury which may have advanced to the stage of hyaline degeneration of the capillary loops, there occurs only slight evidence of an impairment of renal function. Urine from such kidneys constantly contains albumin and occasional hyaline and finely granular casts. The twenty-four hour output of urine when studied on successive days is variable. There is no constant decrease in the output. In four of the animals the output of urine has been markedly in excess of the intake of fluid. Such animals have shown a reduction in body weight. With the development of this type of glomerular injury there has been no other marked evidence of an impairnient of renal function. The elimination of phenolsulphonephthalein has not been below 60 per cent in any of the animals. There has been no retention of blood urea or nonprotein nitrogen. The reserve alkali of the blood has been unaffected.

3. The kidney may be the seat of a diffuse and advanced type of chronic glomerular injury with only two indications of a functional disturbance : a marked variation in the twenty-four hour output of urine, and a urine which contains albumin and an occasional cast.