Mineralizing Pulmonary Elastosis in Chronic Cardiac Failure: “Endogenous Pneumoconiosis” Revisited

摘要: The histopathology, ultrastructure, and clinicopathologic correlations in six patients with cardiac failure iron encrustation of lung elastic tissue were examined at autopsy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) energy dispersive x-ray analysis applied to two cases. Of the group, five had due systemic hypertension (4 patients), valvular disease or coronary atherosclerosis patients). Biventricular one patient was associated sleep apnea. Both calcium, identified by histochemical stains, impregnated degenerated alveolar vascular fibers a foreign body reaction focal interstitial fibrosis. Energy TEM demonstrated calcium on microfibrillar portion elastin. Morphometry indicated changes pulmonary venous hypertension. authors concluded that mineral deposition probably represents nonspecific precipitation metallic ions altered failure. "Mineralizing elastosis" potentially contributes restriction and, occasionally, can be source diagnostic confusion.