OBJECTIVE To help inform primary care physicians about how to identify and slow progressive chronic renal failure. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE The National Library of Medicine (1996 to 2000) was searched using PubMed with search terms pertinent to studies on identification, course, and management of chronic renal failure. References in retrieved papers and older literature known to the authors supple...

Of 570 patients operated on for hyperparathyroidism, 18 subsequently died (between one day and 12 yr after operation). Pathological findings at necropsy in these patients have been reviewed. Four necropsies on patients with untreated hyperparathyroidism have also been reviewed for comparison. Of these 22 cases, 14 had renal failure at the time of death. This was attributed to the following: nep...

A clinicopathological report is presented of a British male, aged 59 years, who died after an illness of 10 years, manifested by progressive respiratory failure, ptosis, and dysphagia. At no time was there evidence of ophthalmoplegia, Parkinsonism or dementia. At necropsy the main finding was of neurofibrillary tangles in the neurons of the pontine and medullary reticular formation, with partic...