HLA typing intestinohepatic schistosomiasis.

Patients with simple and/or complicated intestinal bilharziasis and normal controls were chosen for CBC, complete urine and stool analysis, liver function tests, liver biopsy, sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy. HLA typing was done by microcytotoxicity test. A statistically significant increased frequency of HLA-B8 antigen was present in with or without polyposis and with or without hepatosplenomegaly, as compared to controls (P less than 0.01). Also HLA-B8 showed a statistically significant increased frequency in those with or without polyposis and with hepatosplenomegaly and without polyposis (P less than 0.05). The HLA-A25 and A26 showed a significant increased frequency among all groups (P less than 0.05). HLA-A1, A9, B18 were variable in frequency among all groups. It was concluded that patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly specially with intestinal polyposis have a high frequency of HLA-B8.

Pernicious anaemia among Arabs in Kuwait.

Addisonian pernicious anaemia is believed to be very rare in Arabs. Three cases are reported. Two were Jordanians of Palestinian origin and one an Egyptian. All had the typical peripheral macrocytosis, a frankly megaloblastic bone marrow, and a Schilling test result in the range of pernicious anaemia. All three improved remarkably on vitamin B(12) therapy and have maintained a normal haemoglobin level. There was no evidence of gastric carcinoma in any of these cases.