Mast cells in human polyneuropathies: their density and regional distribution.

The density of mast cells (MC) in human sural nerve biopsies of different neuropathies (NP) was determined by counting cells expressing naphtol-AS-D-chloracetate-esterase-activity. Morphometry of the different nerve compartments was performed and the counts for the endoneurial (including the perineurial) compartment were compared to the counts for the epineurial compartment. In most cases the density of the MC was notably higher in the epineurial than in the endoneurial compartment.

Sensitization against brain gangliosides after therapeutic swine brain implantation in a multiple sclerosis patient.

The case history is presented of a patient with multiple sclerosis who developed acute polyradiculoneuritis 11 days after subcutaneous implantation of a swine brain preparation. By means of lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT), sensitization against brain gangliosides could be demonstrated 16 days after the implantation. A second patient who underwent the same treatment showed neither clinical symptoms nor sensitization against brain gangliosides in the LTT.

Glaucomatouslike visual field defects in chronic papilledema.

In 19 patients, 31 eyes with chronic papilledema were found to have visual field defects other than enlarged blind spots. In this series, the inferior nasal quadrant was most frequently involved. Dense paracentral scotomata were found in the Bjerrum area, some of which later progressed to form ring scotomata.