[A case of Farber's disease--histochemical, electron microscopic and biochemical studies]

A case of Farber's disease (disseminated lipogranulomatosis) is reported. A Japanese boy presented with progressive joint deformity, a hoarse voice, mental retardation and skin granulomatous lesions. He died of bronchopneumonia at the age of 2 years. Biopsied specimen from the perianal granulomatous lesion showed many macrophage contained lipids, and acidic oligo-, or polysaccharides, or, glycoconjugates. Electron microscopic study revealed, in addition to curvilinear tubular bodies (Farber's bodies), numerous granular structures accumulated in the cytoplasm of the macrophage. Biochemical analysis demonstrated a storage of free ceramide in the patient's liver, and confirmed the patient's diagnosis. This is the 5th case reported in Japan.