SUMMARY Thirty-four cases (29 children and five adults) of congenital absence of the gall bladder were found in a retrospective necropsy study. When the distribution of associated malformations in these patients was analysed, the cases were found to fall into several groups. The largest group (13) cases with congenital absence of the gall bladder were found, five in adults and 22 in children of 18 months or less. The CHLA necropsy files from January 1960 to January 1982 were searched and seven cases of congenital absence of the gall bladder in children of 6 years of age or less were found. Cases of absent gall bladder associated with biliary atresia were excluded from the study.After identification of the cases, the necropsies and histories were reviewed. Previously reported cases of congenital absence of the gall bladder and associated malformations were compiled. The results were tabulated and compared.
An 11-month-old infant with symptoms of mild asthma for 3 months died unexpectedly during sleep. Pulmonary findings typical of acute asthma as well as focal interstitial pneumonitis were present at autopsy. Serum IgE level, known to rise in viral infections, was markedly elevated. Rhinovirus type 47 was cultured from blood and lung post mortem. The relationship between viral infection and onset of an acute asthmatic attack is discussed, and this potentially life-threatening complication of asthma is underscored.
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