ABSTRACT
This prospective study, carried out in an unselected autopsy series of 700 adults who died in or around Wuppertal, showed distinct capillarosclerosis of renal pelvic mucosa in 3% of all cases. In that renal capillarosclerosis is a partial morphologic marker of phenacetin and/or paracetamol abuse, the findings indicate that the incidence of analgesic abuse in hospitalized patients in our area is at least 3%. The incidence of renal pelvic capillarosclerosis was 1.5 times greater in females than in males.
Subject(s)
Acetaminophen/poisoning , Kidney Pelvis/blood supply , Phenacetin/poisoning , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Vascular Diseases/chemically induced , Adult , Aged , Capillaries/pathology , Epidemiologic Methods , Female , Germany, West , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , SclerosisABSTRACT
In a prospective study conducted during one year, postmortem examination of 500 unselected adults revealed in 13 cases (2.6%) a marked capillarosclerosis of the mucosa of the renal pelvis, considered to be a reliable histological sign of phenacetin and paracetamol abuse. These results were obtained in four men (1.5% of the total number of autopsied men) and nine women (3.9% of the autopsied women). Thus, capillarosclerosis is 2.6 time more frequent in women than in men.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/chemically induced , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , Acetaminophen/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Autopsy , Capillaries , Female , Humans , Kidney Pelvis , Male , Middle Aged , Phenacetin/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Autopsy reports from 1931 to 1980 were used to study the incidence of liver cirrhosis (LC) and the association between LC and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in our area (Wuppertal, Germany). An increase in LC and in LC with HCC has occurred since World War II, with HCC being most frequently associated with postnecrotic cirrhosis. The prevalence of HCC in men with LC was highest (13.5%) in 1966-1970, whereas the prevalence of HCC with LC in women rose abruptly to a peak (11.8%) during the last 5 years of the study. Possible etiological factors for the association between LC and HCC are discussed.
