AMYLOID KIDNEY. LARDACEOUS OR WAXY KIDNEY.
This condition of the kidney has been found in the ox (Gerlach) and dog (Rabe, etc.). There are usually similar degenerative lesions in the liver, pancreas, intestines and other organs. It is usually a concomitant of some chronic wasting disease (chronic nephritis, tuberculosis, etc.).
Morbid Anatomy. The kidney is usually enlarged, pale and on section waxy or glistening. Soaked in dilute compound tincture of iodine it shows spots of a walnut or mahogany brown color. The glomeruli are well marked and show the earlier changes, later the tubes do so excepting the epithelium. The latter is swollen, granular, fatty.
Symptoms. There may have been those of chronic nephritis. Rabe has noticed in dogs dropsy of the limbs, ascites, emaciation, anorexia, followed by uræmia, coma, weakness, vomiting, and if the kidney alone was affected great lowering of temperature (35.9°C). With hepatic complication there was greater weakness, giddiness, and higher temperature (39.6°C). Urine is usually increased (in man albuminous) and the casts have shown the anyloid reaction. They tend to be fatty or finely granular. Casts may, however, show anyloid reaction when the kidney, post mortem, does not (Jaksch).
Diagnosis from Bright’s disease is often impossible.
Treatment is essentially the same as in chronic nephritis, and is not hopeful.
Trasbot recommends KI 3 to 7 grs., or tinct of iodine 3 drops for shepherd dog. Ol. terebinth and alkaline diuretics are also commended.