ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the clinical predictors of anticipatory emesis in patients treated with chemotherapy at a tertiary care cancer hospital
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 200 patients undergoing first line chemotherapy with minimum of two cycles at inpatient department and chemotherapy bay of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Pakistan. Anticipatory nausea and vomiting develops before administration of chemotherapy. Clinical signs and symptoms in patients with or without anticipatory emesis were compared using chi square test statistics
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 36.68 years [SD +/- 12.23]. The mean numbers of chemotherapy cycles administered were 3.23 [SD +/- 1.2]. Chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting was experienced by 188 [94%] patients and anticipatory nausea vomiting was reported in 90 [45%] of patients. Greater proportions of patients with anticipatory emesis were females. Fourteen [15.5%] p-value=0.031 patients with anticipatory emesis had history of anxiety and depression. Fifty nine [65.5%] p-value =< 0.0001 patients with anticipatory emesis had severe nausea after last chemotherapy cycle. Forty six [51.11%] p=<0.0001 patients had motion sickness
Conclusion: Female gender, history of motion sickness, anxiety and depression, severe nausea and vomiting experienced in pervious cycle of chemotherapy were clinical predictors of anticipatory nausea and vomiting
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of the study is to determine frequency of celiac disease in adults with inexplicable iron deficiency Anemia
Study Design: Cross-sectional / observational study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at all Medical units of Civil Hospital Karachi from December 2009 to June 2010
Materials and Methods: The study included diagnosed cases of Iron Deficiency Anemia on basis of Iron profile without evident reason. They were evaluated for celiac disease on the basis of serological markers i.e. tissue transglutaminase antibodies [TTG] IgA type via standard laboratory procedures
Results: A total of 100 patients with Iron deficiency anemia previously diagnosed on basis of serum levels were included in this study. The average age was 37.12 + 8.2years and 44 [44%] were males.Celiac disease was found via serology in 16 [16%] of the patients. Out of these 16 Celiac disease patients 7 [43.75%] were males and 9 [56.25%] were females with 1:1.28 male to femaleratio
Conclusion: Celiac disease is an important cause of inexplicable Iron deficiency anemia especially in absence of gastro-intestinal symptoms. Serology though less sensitive, but can be an important screening tool for these patients