[Capillarosclerosis of the lower urinary tract and chronic alcohol consumption]

Between 1984 and 1987, autopsies were performed on 214 decreased who were safely assumed to have been chronic consumers of alcohol. Histological investigations were conducted on 84 ureters, with twelve of them (14.3 percent) exhibiting capillarosclerosis. This statistical relationship between alcohol consumption and capillarosclerosis was not attributable to action of alcohol on the capillaries but most probably had been a consequence of polytoxicomania, e.g. chronic alcohol abuse in concomitance with intake of phenacetin-containing medicaments. Accidental post-mortem finding of capillarosclerosis may be interpreted as a relative indicator to chronic alcohol consumption.