Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory InvestigationsUniversity of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
History
Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
University of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
Influenza; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919
The _spleen_ showed relatively little reaction and in only two cases was
it enlarged. Fourteen times a diagnosis of acute splenitis was made on
examination of the gross specimen. This diagnosis rested upon the
finding of a swollen spleen with tense capsule and with a dark bulging
pulp. The Malpighian bodies were usually in part or completely
obliterated, though in a few instances these grayish nodules seemed even
larger than normal. These spleens contained an excess of blood within
the pulp. In one case several isolated areas appeared hemorrhagic as if
a local rupture of the tissues had occurred. The microscopic examination
of these specimens showed mainly a marked congestion of the sinusoids, a
diminution in the size of the lymphoid corpuscles and some increase in
the number of leucocytes within the blood spaces and reticulum. Only
occasionally did we observe a proliferative reaction of the large
mononuclear cells lying in the reticulum. This proliferation was not
sufficiently marked nor uniformly present to be considered as
characteristic. We did not find abnormal deposition of blood pigment
indicating an unusual destruction of red blood cells within the spleen.
It is interesting to note that 5 of the 32 cases showed obsolete miliary
tubercles in the spleen.
Our analysis of the changes occurring in the _kidney_ bore out the
clinical findings observed in the wards. Like in so many acute
infectious diseases urinary changes were commonly present. These are in
part dependent upon systemic changes in the metabolism of tissues and
not entirely the result of renal lesions. In acute epidemic influenza
there was no common characteristic in the urinary output. The amount
excreted in 24 hours was usually diminished to a small extent, the color
was darker, the specific gravity slightly increased, as well as the
total solids. There was no marked change in the total quantity of output
of any one of the constituents as far as they were analyzed by us.
Albumin was present in the urine in variable amounts and in the more
severe cases casts were also present. There was only one case in which
the quantitative output was much diminished and where some fear was
entertained of development of acute uremic manifestations. This
individual, however, died before these made their appearance and before
there was any evidence that the retention of waste products was causing
definite clinical symptoms.
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