HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF OXALOSIS IN THE EYE AND ADNEXA OF AIDS PATIENTS

Review of a series of 98 eyes removed at autopsy from 86 AIDS patients identified 12 cases (14%) showing varying degrees of microscopic calc ium oxalate deposition, The oxalate crystals were birefringent using p olarisation microscopy and were stained histochemically by the silver nitrate-rubeanic acid method (Yasue), a stain considered to be specifi c for calcium oxalate, In two cases, the deposition was extensive and involved the surface of the ciliary processes, ciliary body and pars p lana of the retina, the retinal and optic nerve blood vessel wall, a f ew retinal pigment cells, and the anterior inner sclera, A lesser degr ee of intraocular involvement was observed in the remaining 10 cases, In all but two eyes, where a peripheral active area of cytomegalovirus retinitis was present, no other significant microscopical abnormality was found, Clinically, these patients were asymptomatic, At autopsy, oxalate deposits were found in the kidney and/or thyroid in seven of t he patients.