Secondary renal oxalosis. A statistical analysis of its possible causes.

Various clinical and pathologic items were examined regarding renal oxalosis in 501 autopsy cases. The rubeanic acid method (Yasue) was applied to 501 kidney sections to demonstrate the presence of calcium oxalate crystals. The extent of renal oxalosis was determined by counting the black-stained crystals per 10 low-power field (1.3 cm2). Thus, severe oxalosis (more than 50 crystals) was observed in 38 cases; moderate oxalosis (between 10 and 50 crystals) in 19 cases; mild (fewer than 10 crystals) in 36 cases, and no deposition in 408 cases. Acute or chronic renal failure and xylitol infusion were found to be highly correlated to renal oxalosis. Cases with diabetes mellitus, with hepatocellular degeneration, or with glucose infusion, as well as neoplasms or some other alleged causes, were found to be primarily unrelated to renal oxalosis, even though the overlapping renal insufficiency, or xylitol infusion caused some of these items to appear related. In cases with xylitol infusion, the extent of renal oxalosis was shown to be dose-dependent: No severe or moderate oxalosis was observed in cases where the total dose of infusion was less than 100 g, while in cases over 500 g, 10/24, or 44 percent, showed severe oxalosis.