[The connective tissue changes in patients with acute poisonings by organophosphate pesticides]

The changes in the derma, selected as a representative of highly organized connective tissue, were studied by 8 types of staining and histochemical reactions in 896 biopsies of macroscopically unchanged skin from the gluteal region of 56 patients with acute phospho-organic pesticide intoxication between the 2d and 15th day after the intoxication. 272 biopsies from 17 healthy persons and the literature data, describing the normal structure of the skin, served as controls. Nonspecific changes affecting mainly the elastic and collagen components, in some cases parallel to the severity of the intoxication, were found. The reticular net, vessels, matrix and cell elements were far less affected which shows their comparative resistance to the pesticide action.