Investigations were done to study the calcium and phosphorus metabolic changes in 35 children with hepatic bilharziasis, of whom 12 were ascitic. Thirteen normal children served as controls. Despite a normal serum level of both calcium and inorganic phosphate in the Bilharzial group, yet both were increased in urine. The mean values obtained from the ascitic fluid were 70% and 90.2% of their serum levels, respectively. The corrected creatinine clearance was significantly diminished, while PEI was significantly increased, and the % TRP significantly decreased, with still a more marked decrease in the ascitic cases. Following a phosphate lead the serum inorganic phosphate level showed a significantly more rapid lowering in both bilharzial groups, as compared to the control group. On the other hand bilharzial cases responded to the intravenous calcium load by a significant retention of calcium in the serum.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histochemical studies of renal biopsies of nephrotic children.

Histopathological and histochemical studies were done on renal biopsies taken from twenty nephrotic children and thirty Albino rats of which fifteen were rendered nephrotic by the intravenous injection of nephrotoxic serum and the other fifteen served as controls. There were reduced activities of succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and non-specific esterases enzymes. These changes may be secondary to the insult which caused the nephrotic syndrome, or the result of the heavy proteinuria. In conclusion, a derangement in carbohydrate metabolism may underlie the disturbed metabolism of the basement membrane, the distortion of the foot-processes, and the tubular dysfunction.

Acid Phosphatase↗