[Overload histiocytosis in 2 hemodialyzed patients. Possible role of dextran 40]

The authors report two cases of singular overloading histiocytosis, observed in patients treated with regular dialysis and undergoing feverish cachectic disease. The observations of the two patients show a same histiocytosis infiltration of ganglions, liver, muscles, lung, pleura and pericardium, consisting in an accumulation of PAS positive intracytoplasmic substance, refringent at polarisation, microcrystalline on electron microscopy and on ionic analysis. Clinical likeness appears with PVP thesaurismosis but the histochemical findings are different. A favorable issue occurred with corticosteroïd treatment. Nature of PAS positive substance is uncertain. An exogenous origin is undoubted, and some elements call for the responsibility of dextran 40.