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their content of “ gluten,”cause celiac disease, which is the best recognized form of gluten allergy. The yearly increase in the number of patients diagnosed with celiac disease appears alarming. Projections of this trend from our hospital data to the years 2010 and 2020 indicate an enormous increase in its incidence. These results are alarming, though it must be kept in mind that ours is a hospital-based study. Nevertheless, serious thought should be given to identifing the possible reasons for the increasing prevalence of disease in India. Is it just an increased awareness of the disease? Is it that the wheat of today differs appreciably in composition or characteristics from the wheats of times past? Is it that the enormous potential benefits from the genetically improved crops are causing people to ignore such unforeseen effects? Is it that the alteration of just one or two genes with known traits through biotechnology to increase yield or quality in the already popular crop variety leads to this menace? Or is it that conventional plant breeding methods leading to the introduction of unknown genes (wild variety) whose traits have not been studied are causing an increase in incidence? Most of these concerns are technical issues that need to be addressed through appropriate research. First and foremost, the specific peptide sequence of the gliadin responsible for triggering intestinal in flammation needs to be identified. Gene-altered wheat and its products have found their way into the Indian markets. The alarming increase in the incidence of celiac disease invokes fears about the type and quality of wheat being used. The hypothetical risks posed by its use need to be scientifically evaluated. Animal model trials with the various transgenic crops of wheat over the years need to be carried out.

TO THE EDITOR: Alcohol is known to cause nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis and its associated complications such as renal failure. The known causes of renal failure in alcoholic liver disease patients are nephrotoxic drugs, infections, gastrointestinal bleed, hypotension, and hepatorenal syndrome. Besides these, prerenal azotemia is known to occur because of repeated vomitings or poor intake. This report highlights the fact that myoglobinuric renal failure can occur in patients of alcoholic hepatitis and that this is a treatable cause.