Pathologic Lesions of Liver, Kidney and Lung in the Autopsy of 100 Mustard Gas-Exposed Iranian War Veterans

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Respiratory, central nervous system, and skin complications of mustard gas toxicity have previously been studied; however, the liver and kidney side effects due to this intoxication have not been fully noted. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of liver, kidney and lung lesions in mustard gas-exposed Iranian veterans who had been exposed to the toxin almost 2 decades before. Methods: A total of 100 veteran bodies underwent autopsy by at least two forensic medicine specialists. The liver, kidney and lung specimens were sent for pathological examination and their lesions, severity of the lesions, and the relation between the type/severity of the lesions and the time elapsed since their appearance were studied. Results: A total of 83%, 63%, and 62% of the veterans had lung, liver, and kidney pathologies. The most common pathologies included liver steatosis, interstitial fibrosis of the kidney, and lung atelectasis. Conclusion: Liver and kidney pathologies are far more common than what is considered in the mustard gas-exposed veterans. These pathologies are often accompanied by very severe lung complications.