20. DIC (fibrinthrombi in kidney) (fibrin stain)

Staining: Weigert (fibrin) stain

Overview. The small dark spots are the glomeruli, filled with fibrin.

Organ: Kidney

Description:

Many parts of the slide are darker, but especially the glomeruli are very dark blue, sometimes black. Some tubules are also dark.

Diagnosis: DIC – phase 1

Theory:

In phase I of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), the thrombotic phase, will there be microthrombus and microembolism formation in every organ. In the kidney are the glomerular capillaries especially affected by this.

Some tubules also appear to be fibrin-positive, however this is a false positive result. There is no fibrin inside the tubule cells.

Closer up

The glomeruli are clearly positive for fibrin.

Some tubules also appear fibrin-positive, however they don’t contain fibrin.