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The occurrence of corpus amylaceum (polyglucosan body) in diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
LeelOssy L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
neuropathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1789
pISSN - 0919-6544
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1789.1995.tb00251.x
Subject(s) - diabetes mellitus , pathological , medicine , incidence (geometry) , significant difference , type 2 diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , pathology , physics , optics
Numbers of corpora amylacea (CA) were observed among 1407 autopsied and/or biopsied cases where diabetes mellitus had been diagnosed clinically and in those where the diabetes mellitus did not exist. A comparative examination was carried out by a semi‐quantitative method which revealed a significant difference in the incidence of CA between 100 diabetic and 100 non‐diabetic cases. However, there was not a significant difference in the incidence of CA between the diabetic and ischemic cases who have also shown a tendency for developing CA. The results were evaluated statistically by homogeneity examination. Diabetes may enhance the tendency for forming CA by the hyperglycemia increasing the quantity of unused carbohydrate polymers, which are the main components of CA. Changes in the metabolism of glucose by astrocytes caused by aging or by some pathological processes may play a primary role in the developing of CA. Other factors such as the greater volume of cerebrospinal fluid, barrier disturbances and pathological changes which are associated with the appearance of heat stroke protein positivity in CA, also have a prominent role in this type of astrocytic degeneration. The presence of CA does not have any pathognostic significance but some conditions favor its development. A theory is also suggested for the formation of CA similar to other types of biocrystalloids in the central nervous system.