Disseminated tuberculosis complicated by the hemophagocytic syndrome.

A 43-year-old Polynesian presented with fever, abnormal liver function tests, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and a progressive neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow examination showed extensive and striking hemophagocytosis which raised the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was subsequently cultured from both urine and bone marrow.

Pharmacokinetics of amsacrine in patients receiving combined chemotherapy for treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia.

The pharmacokinetics of amsacrine have been studied after the first and third infusions (200 mg . m-2) in 10 patients receiving combined chemotherapy for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Postinfusion amsacrine elimination was best described by a biexponential expression with a mean t1/2 alpha of 0.

Control of thrombocytosis by plateletpheresis using a cell separator.

Three patients with marked thrombocythaemia secondary to myeloproliferative disorders were treated with plateletpheresis using an Aminco cell separator and myelosuppressive agents. Immediate control of the raised platelet count was achieved by plateletpheresis and long-term control by the concomitant cytotoxic therapy. The indications for plateletpheresis in patients with marked thrombocytosis are discussed.

Anabolic role of urea in renal failure.

The amount of urea nitrogen released and the amount reincorporated into albumin has been measured in healthy and uremic individuals on both normal and low-protein diets. The albumin synthesis rate was measured simultaneously. Gut urea breakdown was only 50% higher in renal failure than in health, but the efficiency of utilization of the nitrogen thus released was increased more than 6-fold in renal failure and was higher on a low protein than on a normal protein diet.