Objectives:
Diquat has replaced
paraquat in agricultural areas as a
herbicide but has led to extensive
poisoning. Unlike
paraquat, which targets the lungs,
diquat primarily targets the kidneys. Autopsies and animal experiments suggest that interstitial kidney damage is the most critical renal lesion.
Diquat is a nonselective chemical widely used for terrestrial and aquatic plants after the ban on
paraquat. Although
diquat is known to affect the kidneys mainly, no study has reported renal biopsy in patients with
diquat poisoning.Methods: We investigated the histopathologic feature in a young man with
diquat poisoning who developed
acute kidney injury by renal biopsy.Results: Autopsy and animal experiments suggest that interstitial kidney
inflammation is the most critical renal lesion. Surprisingly, our results showed that
lipid degeneration and acute tubular injury with limited interstitial
inflammation were the dominant histologic findings in this patient. Conclusions: Based on a renal biopsy, this was the first study describing the characteristics of the kidney affected by
diquat poisoning. Our findings might provide information for managing patients who develop AKI due to
diquat poisoning.