Hypomagnesaemia.

In the management of electrolyte abnormalities along with hypokalaemia and hypocalcaemia, etc, presence of hypomsgenesaemia should be thought of even when serum magnesium is within normal limit as magneium is a predominantly intracellulr ion. Two cases of hypomagnesaemia as one of the factors of electrolyte distrubances are communicated in this write-up.

Acute appendicitis mistaken as acute rejection in renal transplant recipients.

Case histories of 2 renal transplant recipients are reported who had presenting features of fever, leukocytosis and pain/tenderness over right iliac fossa and were diagnosed to be due to acute appendicitis rather than more commonly suspected acute rejection episode which has very similar features. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis was suspected on the basis of rectal examination and later confirmed by laparotomy. The purpose of this communication is to emphasize the need for proper diagnosis in patient with such presentation; otherwise wrong treatment may be received.

Pattern of renal amyloidosis in western India. A study of 104 cases.

A total of 31,266 autopsies and 1556 renal biopsies were scrutinised over a period of 19 years (1968-1986) retrospectively and prospectively, with an aim to study the incidence and pattern of renal amyloidosis in western India. A total of 104 cases with amyloidosis were detected, 41 from the autopsy series (0.1%) and 63 from biopsies (4%). Secondary amyloidosis was seen in 83.7% and primary amyloidosis in 11.5%. The interval between the onset of predisposing disease and first evidence of amyloidosis varied from 2 months to 31 years. Tuberculosis of various organs was the main cause of secondary amyloidosis (72.4%). Nephrotic syndrome was a common mode of presentation (71.4%). Besides kidneys, which were involved in all cases, the liver, spleen and adrenals were other commonly involved organs at autopsy. Renal failure was the leading cause of death (34.1%).