Spontaneous Bilateral Renal Cortical Necrosis in Animals

Six cases representing three species, previously diagnosed as bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BCN), were studied histologically. One horse had vascular lesions including fibrinoid necrosis and fibrinous thrombi in various organs. Intrarenally these lesions occurred in interlobular arteries, afferent arterioles, and glomeruli. Another horse had bilateral renal glomerular thrombosis but no extra-glomerular vascular lesion. Distinct fibrinous deposition in the renal vessels did not occur among the other four cases. A comparison is drawn between the characteristic lesions in the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR) and BCN as diagnosed in our autopsy material. The renal alterations were compatible with GSR in two horses only among the six cases.