ACUTE RENAL FAILURE - CHANGING TRENDS

A prospective study of 120 patients of acute renal failure was done at CH (EC) Calcutta to document the changing trends in the incidence and etiology of acute renal failure and to assess the prognostic factors. Mean age of patients was 33.7 ± 20.2 years. 75% had a medical risk factor. The etiological factors were volume depletion (13.3%), septicaemia (25.6%), falciparum malaria (16.6%), a transplant related renal failure (5.7%) and drugs (16.7%). Renal histology showed acute tubular necrosis to be the most common lesion (53.3%). In 13.3% patients who died with acute renal failure, associated infection and multisystem involvement was more common.

Sarcoma-like nodule in ovarian mucinous tumour (a case report)

Sarcoma-like mural nodule, a morphologically benign epulis-like tumour with osteoid formation in the wall of mucinous tumour of borderline malignancy is described. The pattern simulated those of malignant giant cell tumour of soft part and was considered to be a reactive process that has no effect on the prognosis of the patient. This case, second to be reported from India and is in addition to the other thirteen cases reviewed. The case under report had in addition osteoid-formation which have not been reported in the literature.

Systemic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Twenty five cases with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted to a referral service hospital over a period of 6 years have been studied to analyse the pattern of multisystem involvement. Febrile polyarthritis, renal involvement and skin changes dominated the clinical picture. Important serological abnormalities included the presence of antinuclear antibody and anti ds DNA. Renal biopsy carried out in all cases helped to reveal lupus nephritis in subclinical cases. The pattern of renal involvement varied, with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis being the commonest. Oral steroids was given to all cases and cyclophosphamide was given to severe and resistant cases. The severity of system involvement, especially renal, influenced the response to treatment. Changes in presentation between Indian and Western patients are highlighted.

Multiple primary tumors of the brain including a medulloblastoma in the cerebellum

A case of multiple primary tumors in a 12-year-old girl is described. The tumors included a right optic nerve glioma, a pilocytic astrocytoma in the right globus pallidus, a ganglioglioma in the left globus pallidus and a medulloblastoma in the cerebellum. To our knowledge no such case has been reported so far in literature.