title: Pathology of endocrine organs in chronic renal failure--an autopsy analysis of 66 patients.
abstract: Gross and microscopic findings at autopsy are reported in 66 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Nineteen patients received renal transplant, and 47 were maintained on chronic dialysis. Thyromegaly was seen in over half of the dialysis patients and in a third of the transplant recipients. The mean weight of the thyroid gland in the two groups was similar (26.2 +/- 4.5 g in the transplant group and 27.2 +/- 6 g in the group on dialysis). The parathyroid glands were hyperplastic in 10/11 dialysis patients (91%), but of normal size in 78% of the transplant recipients. Adrenal gland atrophy was common in the transplant group, probably reflecting adrenal suppression by glucocorticoids. Seminiferous tubular atrophy was observed in 12/16 dialysis patients and small testes were noted on gross examination in 50% of the transplant recipients. Prominent autopsy findings were goiter, parathyroid gland hyperplasia, and testicular atrophy. Following transplantation parathyroid gland hyperplasia declined, whereas goiter and testicular atrophy appeared to persist.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001344:Autopsy; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size