Retrospective analysis of renal histology in asymptomatic patients with probable chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To study the early pathological changes in renal lesions of asymptomatic patients with kidney diseases, with no definite aetiology living in regions endemic for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDUe). Design Retrospective study.

Setting: Regions endemic for CKDUe in and around the North Central Province of Sri Lanka.

Genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver disease patients in Sri Lanka.

A total of 460 samples (serum or plasma) were obtained from clinically diagnosed liver disease patients from January 2006 to December 2007 and subjected to reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based detection of HCV. Of these, 32 samples (6.9%) were positive for HCV RNA.

Envenoming by the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and Sri Lankan cobra (Naja naja naja): efficacy and complications of therapy with Haffkine antivenom.

In Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, 5 patients proved to have been bitten by common kraits (Bungarus caeruelus) and 2 by Sri Lankan cobras (Naja naja naja) were investigated. In all the cases of krait bite the patients were bitten while they were asleep: local signs were negligible but 4 developed symptoms of systemic envenoming including paralysis, muscle pain and tenderness and abdominal pain. Mild myoglobinaemia was found in one case.

Paralysis, rhabdomyolysis and haemolysis caused by bites of Russell's viper (Vipera russelli pulchella) in Sri Lanka: failure of Indian (Haffkine) antivenom.

In Sri Lanka, Russell's viper, Vipera russelli pulchella, kills more people than any other species of snake. At Anuradhapura in the dry central zone of the island we studied 23 patients with systemic envenoming after proven bites. Seventy-three per cent had swelling at the bite site.