Silicon nephropathy: a possible occupational hazard.
A 37-year-old white male, working in a tile factory, presented proteinuria with no obvious tubular dysfunctional. Renal biopsy disclosed a mild focal segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis. Distinct alterations were found by electron microscopy, especially in the proximal tubular cells. Because of a history of heavy dust exposure the silicon content was determined in the kidney biopsy tissue. The finding of 150 mg/kg silicon on tissue dry weight supports the diagnosis of silicon nephropathy.
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012825:Silicon