Abstract
Small cutaneous vessels, obtained by ear lobe biopsies were studied in 14 patients with various chronic nephritides and in 10 normal controls. The capillaries in the group of patients with nephritis were found to undergo two main changes: thickening of the adventitia reticularis and perivascular cellular infiltration in an inverse ratio. This infiltration was seen to be made up on mononuclear cells and an increased number of mast cells in various stages of degranulation. Changes in the basement membrane as seen by electron microscopy are not constant. All of the above changes were absent in the controls and are similar to what has been described in previous studies in both experimental and spontaneous pathologic conditions, such as experimental hypertension, diabetes mellitus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Small vessel involvement in chronic nephritides could be part of a process of diffuse microvascular damage that includes the kidneys or it may be related to hypertension or to the biochemical changes which follow uremic and pre-uremic states.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allara, E.: Su alcune particolarità ultrastructturali dell'endotelio, dei capillari sanguigni.Mon. Zool. It.,72, Supp. 22 (1964).
Baker, E. M., Hamilton, J. D.: Capillary changes in myxoedema.Lab. Invest. 6, 218 (1957).
Blumenthal, H. T., Alex, M., Goldenberg, S.: A study of lesions of the intramural coronary artery branches in diabetes mellitus.Arch. Path. 70, 27 (1960).
Bunim, J. J., Sokoloff, L.: The occurrence and significance of vascular lesions in rheumatoid arthritis.Tr. Ass. Am. Phys. 70, 318 (1957).
Byrom, F. B.: The Hypertensive Vascular Crisis. An Experimental Study. W. Heineman Med. Books Ltd., London 1969.
Dixon, F. J.: The pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis.Am.J. Med. 44, 493 (1968).
Gardner, D. L., Matthews, M. A.: Ultrastructure of the wall of small arteries in early experimental rat hypertension.J. Path. 97, 51 (1969).
Goldenberg, S., Alex, M., Joshi, R. A., Blumenthal, H. T.: Nonatheromatous peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremity in diabetes mellitus.Diabetes. 8, 261 (1959).
Gonzales-Angulo, A., Fraga, A., Mintz, G.: Submicroscopic alterations in capillaries of skeletal muscles in polymyositis.Am. J. Med. 45, 873 (1968).
Guiraudon, C., Saporta, L., Delbarre, F.: Les lésions vasculaires dans la sclérodermie; in F. Delbarre “La sclérodermie” Masson, Paris, 1972, p. 263.
Hollingsworth, J. W.: Local and Systemic Complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia 1968.
Kniker, W. T.: Immunogenic Vasculitis: Is, It Part of Diabetes Mellitus? in “Vascular Complications of Diabetes Mellitus”, ed. by S. J. Kimura and W. M. Caygill. C. V. Mosby Co., Saint Louis 1967.
Kulka, F. cit..
McCombs, R. P., Patterson, J. P., MacMahon, H. E.: Syndromes associated with “allergic” vasculitis.New Engl. J. Med. 255 251 (1956).
Majno, G., Shea, S. M., Leventhal, M.: Endothelial contraction induced by histaminetype mediators. An electron microscopic study.J. Cell. Biol. 42, 647 (1969).
McFadden, P. M., Berenson, G. S.: Basement membrane changes in myocardial and skeletal muscle capillaries in myxedema.Circulation 45, 808 (1972).
Naeye, R. L.: Capillary and venous lesions in myxedema.Lab. Invest. 12, 465 (1963).
Norton, W. L.: Comparison of the microangiopathy of systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and diabetes mellitus.Lab. Invest. 22, 301 (1970).
Norton, W. L., Nardo, J. M.: Vascular disease in progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).Ann. Int. Med. 73, 317 (1970).
Panja, R. K., Sengupta, K. P., Aikat, B. K.: Vascular changes in the cutaneous lesions of lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.Brit. J. Derm. 78, 43 (1966).
Peri, A., Scarpelli, P. T.: Small blood vessel involvement in diabetes mellitus: light microscope studies of specimens obtained by ear lobe biopsy. Commun. 1a Riunoone Annuale dell' Associazione Europea per lo Studio del Diabete. Montecatini Terme, Italia, 20–22 Aprile 1965.Diabetologia 1, 12 (1965).
Pieri, A., Scarpelli, P. T., Rizzo, M.: Small blood vessel involvement in diabetes mellitus: light microscope studies of specimens, obtained by ear lobe biopsy.Diabetologia, 1, 109 (1965).
Pieri, A., Scarpelli, P. T., Rizzo, M.: Modificazioni ultrastructurali dei capillari cutanei nel diabete mellito.Mal., Cardiovasc. 7, 7 (1969).
Prunieras, M., Montgomery, H.: Histology of cutaneous lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus.A. M. A. Arch. Dermat. 74, 177 (1965).
Ruiter, M.: Vascular fibrinoid in cutaneous “allergic” arteriolitis.J. Invest. Derm. 38, 85 (1962).
Scarpelli, P. T., Boccuni, M., Rizzo, M., Pieri, A.: Is microangiopathy specific for diabetes mellitus? Fourth Annual Meeting of European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Louvain, Belgium. July 22–24, 1968.Diabetologia, 5, 55 (1969).
Scarpelli, P. T., Brancato, R.: Studio bioptico dei microvasi congiuntivali nel diabete mellito: nuovi aspetti istopatologici.Ann. Ottal. Clin. Ocul. 91, 1673 (1965).
Scarpelli, P. T., Brancato, R.: L'ultrastruttura dei capillari della congiuntiva umana nel diabete mellito.Metabolismo 2, 491 (1966).
Volterra, M.: Considerazioni sulla struttura dei capillari sanguigni e su una categoria di cellule a carattere emoistioblastico in rapporto alla anatomia patologica ed alla fisiopatologia: la contrattibilità capillare.Sperimentale 79, 618 (1925a).
Volterra, M.: Sulla struttura dei capillari sanguigni e l'anatomia del sistema reticoloendoteliale.Mon. Zool. It. 36, 49 (1925b).
Volterra, M.: Einige neue Befunde ueber die Struktur der Kapillaren und ihre Beziehungen zur sogenannten Kontraktilität derselben.Zbl. Inn. Med. 46, 876 (1925c).
Zweifach, B. W.: Local regulation of capillary pressure.Circ. Res. 28, Suppl. 1, 129 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scarpelli, P.T., Pieri, A., Rizzo, M. et al. Peripheral small vessel involvement in chronic nephritides. International Urology and Nephrology 7, 157–170 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02085436
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02085436