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A kidney and skin biopsy were performed on a patient who developed cryoglobulinemia, polyarthritis, a purpuric skin rash, and acute renal failure four years following jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity. Morphologic studies revealed a diffuse glomerulonephritis characterized by the presence of numerous subendothelial deposits containing IgG, IgA, C3, Clq, C4, and properdin, and an acute dermal vasculitis associated with similar immune complex deposits. Identical immunoglobulin and complement components were present in the cryoglobulin. In addition, both the cryoglobulin and a renal biopsy eluate containing anti-IgG antibody and antibody against Klebsiella pneumoniae which were present in the patient's stool in large numbers. Combined therapy with steroids and chloramphenicol resulted in marked improvement in the patient's arthritis, skin rash, and renal function. The findings indicate that glomerulonephritis and dermal vasculitis due to the deposition of bacterial antigen-antibacterial antibody complexes may occur as part of a systemic immune complex disease complicating small intestinal bypass.

Typical features on the blood smear suggest the diagnosis in some types of anemia, such as the common microcytic anemias, megaloblastic anemias, and certain hemolytic anemias. Some laboratory tests used in anemia, particularly measurement of serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, may present problems in interpretation, which must be recognized if diagnostic errors are to be avoided. Normocytic anemias that are nonhemolytic, have no obvious cause, and are characterized by marked red cell changes on the blood smear should prompt careful investigation for malignancy or marrow fibrosis. Anemias are often multifactorial, and the diagnosis must be reevaluated after the apparent contributing causes have been treated. A number of "danger signs" in a patient with anemia point to the need for hematologic consultation.

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