Abstract
The colonic mucosa were examined endoscopically in 20 patients with chronic renal failure. Mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained in all cases and examined histologically. In 5 cases electron microscopic study were also done. The results were as follows; 1) Endoscopically anemic and thickened mucosa were seen in 70% and this was the most common finding in these patients. Vascular abnormalities, hemorrhagic lesions involving petechial hemorrhage, erosion and ulcer were observed more frequently than in controls. Irregular colonic abnormal mucosal pattern, polyp, and melanosis coli were also seen in high frequency. 2) Histological examination showed dilated and degenerated glands, hyperplastic glands, crypt abscess, localized edema, plasma cell dominant cell infiltration and microscopic melanosis coli with high frequency in these patients. 3) With electron microscope in the cytoplasm of surface epithelial cells, degenerative changes including increased number of vesicles, appearance of mucin-droplet like large vesicles, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of mitochtndria were frequently observed. In degenerated absorptive cells, diminution or disappearance of microvilli were often seen. In lamina propria, infiltration of plasma cells with Russell's body were also seen. 4) In 18 autopsy cases the same histological changes as seen in endoscopy cases were observed frequently.
