Diagnostic histochemistry in medical diseases of the kidney.

The value of histochemical analysis in the diagnosis of medical renal diseases has long been known, and its use continues currently. Depending on the particular disorder in question, a variety of "special" stains may be applied to renal biopsies. These include the periodic acid-Schiff, Masson trichrome, Jones, von Kossa, Verhoeff-van Gieson, Congo Red, and toluidine blue methods, among others. This review considers the application of such techniques in the assessment of vascular, glomerular, and tubulointerstitial lesions of the kidney.