The histological demonstration of lipids in the proximal renal tubules of patients with diabetic coma

The Armanni-Ebstein phenomenon is a vacuolization of the cells of the proximal kidney tubules in diabetic coma. It has been believed to represent glycogen. In the present examination of 14 cases of diabetic coma, high contents of lipids, probably triglycerides, were demonstrated in the vacuoles by histological staining. Only weak positive reactions were found in diabetic controls. In both alcoholic and nonalcoholic-nondiabetics, no lipid was found. The sensivity was very high, but it was difficult from the present material to ascertain the level of specificity. The authors suggest the term fatty kidney in diabetics.