Alport's syndrome with blue sclera.

An Indian case of Alport's syndrome who had association of keratoglobus and blue sclerae is described.

Laser palliation of esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Forty-five cases of advanced esophageal carcinoma were treated with Nd:YAG laser, to relieve dysphagia. METHODS: There were 36 males (80%) and nine female (20%) patients. The mean age of the patients was 55.87 years. Thirty-nine patients (86.6%) were found to have squamous cell carcinoma. Middle third growths were found to be most common (66.6%), followed by lower third (20%) and upper third (13.3%) tumours. The mean dysphagia grade at presentation was 3.33 with all 45 patients (100%) having dysphagia. RESULTS: After three months of treatment, the mean dysphagia grade improved to 1.73 with 39 patients being able to eat at least soft or solid food. Mean number of laser sessions required was 3.3. The mean weight of the patients also increased from 45.13 Kg to 47.71 Kg. Three patients developed an esophageal perforation (6.6%), out of whom two died. No other major complication was observed. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser is thus an excellent means of palliation of distressful symptom of carcinoma of esophagus with expectable morbidity and mortality.

AIDS cholangiopathy as initial presentation of HIV infection.

AIDS related cholangiopathy is a known clinical entity, but most cases described in literature are known cases of HIV infection who have presented with pain abdomen. AIDS cholangiopathy as the initial presentation of HIV infection is very rare. Here we report such a case.