The clinical and hematological features and response to therapy in 17 Sudanese patients with visceral leishmaniasis are described. The clinical features in our cases were similar to those described from Ethiopia and East Africa. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were common findings. An unusual feature is the relatively high frequency of hepatic dysfunction. One patient died of cerebral hemorrhage and another of gastrointestinal bleeding. Hemorrhagic manifestations were attributed to immune complex vasculitis and thrombocytopenia. The response to sodium stibogluconate was good.

125 Sudanese patients suffering from vitiligo were investigated for the distribution of serum proteins (haptoglobins and transferrins), red cell enzymes (acid phosphatase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and hemoglobins. The results were compared with the published healthy population series investigated for the same genetic markers. There was no significant association with any of the marker systems in vitiligo except glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. An excess deficiency of this enzyme was observed in vitiligo patients compared to the control series.

No abstract

One hundred and seventy Sudanese patients suffering from vitiligo were investigated for the distribution of A,A,BO, MNSs, Rhesus (genotypes), Kell and Duffy blood groups. The same genetic markers were investigated in Sudanese controls, consisting of two series: a published population series and a random sample of healthy blood donors. The relative frequencies of these blood groups were examined between the vitiligo patients and either or both of the control series. There was no significant association of ABO, Ss, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood groups in vitiligo. However, a significant association was observed with the MN system with an excess of homozygotes and of the M gene in vitiligo.

No abstract