Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Ramsaroop.
Histopathological changes in the placental bed were studied in 7 primigravid patients with eclampsia and compared with those in 17 normotensive patients. Normal morphological changes, which included trophoblastic invasion of spiral arterioles of the decidual and myometrial segments, were noted in the biopsy specimens taken from normotensive patients but were not seen in the specimens obtained from patients with eclampsia.
Renal biopsy specimens were evaluated from patients with different autoimmune diseases treated with cyclosporin (CyA). Ten biopsies were done before CyA, 10 biopsies after low-dose (less than 7.5 mg/kg/day, initial dose or mean daily dose within the first month, respectively), and 9 after high-dose (greater than 7.5 mg/kg/day) treatment. Definite chronic CyA nephrotoxicity (cyclosporin-associated arteriolopathy and/or interstitial fibrosis striped form with tubular atrophy) was only present in the initial high-dose group. In this group a significant serum creatinine increase was noted and 8 of the 9 patients were hypertensive. No significant correlation was found between the severity of morphologic lesions and the mean daily dose during total treatment, cumulative dose, and duration of therapy. The morphologic changes in the low-dose group did not differ from the control biopsy specimens before CyA treatment. Based on these results, it can be concluded that major nephrotoxicity can be avoided by initial low CyA doses.
IgA nephropathy besides exhibiting a characteristic geographical distribution has been noted to have a low incidence in the blacks of the USA. There is a paucity of data on IgA nephropathy in the blacks of Africa. We report our findings among the blacks and compare these with Indians. An analysis of the primary glomerular diseases of 252 blacks and 75 Indians over 6 years (1981-1986) was done. Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis was the commonest type in the black (35.7%), whereas mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis was the commonest in Indians (26.7%). IgA nephropathy occurred in 2 blacks (1 male, 1 female), whereas there were 10 Indians (8 males, 2 females). Available data among whites in Natal show that IgA nephropathy is not uncommon. HLA studies done in blacks with IgA nephropathy did not reveal the HLAB35 or the DR4 antigen. HLAB35 in our blacks is less common compared to Indians and whites of Durban. Thus, although glomerulonephritis is common in blacks, IgA nephropathy is rare. This suggests that infection which is common in our black population may not be responsible for the aetiology of IgA nephropathy. A dietary factor in the form of a high-fibre diet may protect the black population from IgA nephropathy. However, a genetic factor cannot be excluded.
Bullous disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been previously described but characterization has been difficult. A case of bullous eruption that is an unusual manifestation of SLE rather than a primary vesiculobullous eruption is described. The patient was successfully treated with dapsone.
Although the clinical and biochemical features of renal involvement in Legionnaires' disease have been well described, only a few case reports detailed the histological changes. A patient with Legionnaires' disease who developed acute renal failure is described; a biopsy specimen revealed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. The renal morphological changes in Legionnaires' disease are reviewed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.