Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 295, Issue 7644, 28 February 1970, Pages 450-452
The Lancet

Preliminary Communication
NATURE OF CONCENTRATING DEFECT IN SICKLE-CELL NEPHROPATHY: Microradioangiographic Studies

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(70)90836-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Microradioangiographic studies of sickle-cell kidneys reveal gross lesions of the vessels of the renal medulla, with almost complete absence of vasa recta in sickle-cell anaemia; and reduced number of vasa recta and loss of normal bundle architecture in sickle-cell trait and sickle-cell hæmoglobin-C disease. These findings suggest that the basic lesion in sickle-cell nephropathy is obliteration of vasa recta leading to the observed abnormalities in concentrating function, since these vessels form an intrinsic part of the counter-current multiplication system of the long loops of Henle.

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