Histological appearances in post-partum de Quervain's disease.

Six patients who developed de Quervain's disease during pregnancy or within 12 months of childbirth were treated surgically. Histopathological examination of the tendon sheaths using alcian blue stain showed that myxoid degeneration was responsible for the thickening observed in the sheath. Characteristic intramural deposits of mucopolysaccharides were present, predominantly in the subsynovial region. Acute or chronic inflammatory changes were not seen. These findings were the same as those described in patients with de Quervain's disease unrelated to pregnancy or childbirth.