The pathogenesis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is unrelated to hepatitis C virus infection.

Idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a well-defined clinicopathological entity with a poor prognosis, with 50% of patients progressing to end stage renal disease (ESRD) within 10 years. It was reported in about 36% of adult Black patients with nephrotic syndrome in our center previously [Seedat et al. 1988].

Asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism caused by a giant parathyroid adenoma.

On routine investigation a 57-year-old woman was found to have primary hyperparathyroidism caused by a giant parathyroid gland. The gland was removed successfully and histological examination proved it to be a parathyroid adenoma.

Anticardiolipin antibodies in South African patients with lupus nephritis: a clinical and renal pathological study.

Aims: This study was conducted prospectively to ascertain the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in patients with lupus nephritis and to determine whether this subgroup of patients differed clinically and histologically from patients without the antibody.

Patients And Methods: 40 SLE patients (26 Blacks, 14 Indians, 37 females, 3 males) with evidence of renal involvement underwent clinical assessment and percutaneous renal biopsy. Special investigations included: urinary protein quantitation; radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR); complement levels, and antinuclear antibodies and ACAs.

Primary hepatic osteosarcoma: case report and literature review.

We describe a primary osteosarcoma of the liver in a 72 year old man. The man was symptomatic and had suffered abdominal pain and distension for four months before he died. At autopsy a large tumor of the liver with direct extension into adjacent structures was found.

Perineurioma: an unusual cause of an external auditory canal polyp.

A 33-year-old woman presented with pruritus of the right ear and on examination was found to have 1 x 1 cm polypoid lesion in the external auditory canal. This was removed and histological examination revealed a well-circumscribed spindle cell lesion arranged in fascicles and whorls. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor to be EMA-positive but S-100-, desmin-, actin-, and cytokeratin-negative.