Protein profile in leprosy.

Serum proteins and plasma fibrinogen were estimated in 103 patients in various groups of leprosy and 52 patients of reactional leprosy. Total proteins, serum globulin and fibrinogen showed significant rise while serum albumin showed fall over the immunological spectrum from TT to LL. Type II reactional leprosy similarly revealed significant rise in globulin and fibrinogen. The comparison of these parameters between most of the comparable groups of leprosy was statistically significant. ENL patients after complete subsidence of reaction and after steroid treatment showed significant decrease in these protein fractions, thus conferring some prognostic implication on these tests.

Blood transfusion associated fatalities.

16 post transfusion deaths were studied by reviewing clinical and blood bank records and by postmortem examination whenever possible. 13 of these cases belonged to regional blood bank, 2 were transfused in other hospitals and referred for management of transfusion reactions and one case be longed to other blood bank in the city. 3 deaths could not be attributed to transfusion reaction. Post transfusion endotoxaemia (7 cases) was the most frequent mode of transfusion associated fatality followed by cardiac overload (5 cases) and septicaemia (3 cases). In two cases endotoxaemia coexisted with cardiac overload. The pretransfusion compromised clinical course unfavourably thereby contributing significantly in death. The 3 clinically stable patients succumbed to posttransfusion endotoxaemia. The incidence of transfusion associated fatality in the present institute was 0.028% amongst total transfusions.