Congenital chloride diarrhoea (presentation of two cases).

Two cases of congenital chloride diarrhoea in newborn infants are presented. The diagnosis was made by a combination of clinical findings--hydramnios, low birth weight, large abdomen, severe dehydration, dyselectrolytemia with hypochloremia and hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. A crucial finding for the confirmation of the diagnosis was the fourfold rise of faecal CI exceeding the sum of sodium and potassium concentrations.