A 90-year-old woman with mild diabetes and Alzheimer's disease die in her sleep. At autopsy, hepatocytes are noted to contain golden cytoplasmic granules that do not stain with Prussian blue. Which of the following best accounts for pigment accumulation in the liver of this patient?
The answer is A: Advanced age. Substances that cannot be metabolized accumulate in cells. Examples include:- (1) endogenous substrates that are not processed because a key enzyme is missing (lysosomal storage diseases) (2) insoluble endogenous pigments (lipofuscin and melanin) (3) exogenous paiculates (silica and carbon) Lipofuscin is a "wear and tear" pigment of aging that accumulates in organs such as the brain, hea, and liver. None of the other choices are associated with lipofuscin accumulation.Diagnosis: Aging, lipofuscin
Advanced age
Alzheimer disease
Congestive hea failure
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Pigmentation