Basal renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolization and alcoholic ketoacidosis

dc.contributor.authorZhou, C.
dc.contributor.authorByard, R.
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractSubnuclear renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolization is a marker for diabetic ketoacidosis. Whether it is because of hyperglycemia or of ketoacidosis is unclear. To examine the effect of ketoacidosis on renal cells in isolation, five cases of lethal alcoholic ketoacidosis without hyperglycemia were examined (vitreous humor β-hydroxybutyrate: 6.42–8.75 mM, mean 7.66 mM; and glucose: 0.1–4.2 mM, mean 1.46 mM). Microscopic examination of the kidneys revealed basal vacuoles in three cases (60%). Seven control cases with acute alcohol toxicity without ketoacidosis (blood alcohol: 0.18–0.43%, mean 0.31%; and β-hydroxybutyrate: 0.12–0.42 mM, mean 0.21 mM) did not have these changes. In this study, basal epithelial vacuolization was found only in cases with significant ketoacidosis. Although the numbers are small, the finding of basal renal tubular epithelial vacuolization in normoglycemic cases with elevated β-hydroxybutyrate levels provide further evidence that disordered lipid metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of this phenomenon.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityChong Zhou and Roger W. Byard
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Forensic Sciences, 2012; 57(1):126-128
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01957.x
dc.identifier.issn0022-1198
dc.identifier.issn1556-4029
dc.identifier.orcidByard, R. [0000-0002-0524-5942]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/69664
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmer Soc Testing Materials
dc.rightsCopyright 2011 American Academy of Forensic Sciences
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01957.x
dc.subjectforensic science
dc.subjectalcoholic ketoacidosis
dc.subjectintoxication
dc.subjectArmanni–Ebstein phenomenon
dc.subjectdiabetes mellitus
dc.subjectalcoholism
dc.titleBasal renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolization and alcoholic ketoacidosis
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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