Relationship of Child-Pugh classification with liver function tests and its clinical implication in patients of chronic liver disease

Child-Pugh classification currently remains the most important parameter to determine liver function in patients of chronic liver disease [CLD]. This study was carried out to find a relationship between abnormal Liver Function Tests [LFTs] and extent of liver damage in patients of CLD grouped as Child class A and B. To find a relationship between LFTs and severity of liver disease assessed by Child-Pugh scoring. Retrospective study. This study was conducted at the Medical Words of Services Hospital, Lahore from February 2009 to June 2009. It was a retrospective analysis of 40 patients aged 17-74 with CLD. Patients were selected from medical wards of Services Hospital Lahore. Patients were classified as Child class A and B on the basis of severity of liver function. Liver function tests including prothrombin time[PT], serum bilirubin, enzymes like Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP], Aspartate Transaminase [AST], Alanine Transaminase [ALT], serum Proteins and Albumin concentrations were performed by standard laboratory methods. It was observed that serum level of ALP, ALT, AST and the AST/ ALT ratio as well as prothrombin time were significantly increased in patients as compared to their controls. On the other hand level of total proteins and albumin were significantly decreased in patients as compared to their controls whereas the level of bilirubin remains insignificant. In Child class B patients the levels of serum bilirubin, ALP, ALT, AST and ratio AST/ALT were increased as compared to these parameters in Child class A patients. It was observed that level of serum ALP and ALT were non significantly and level of serum bilirubin, AST and AST/ALT ratio were significantly increased in Child class B patients as compared to the patients of Child class A. On the other hand level of serum total proteins and albumin were significantly decreased in Child class B patients as compared to patients of Child class A. Prothromin time is significantly increased in Child class B patients as compared to the patients of Child class A. Further deterioration in LFTs may warn a clinician about progress of disease in a patient of CLD and to further investigate about the liver function at that stage

Decreased serum zinc levels in patients with senile cataract

Age related cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world today and cataract extraction is the most often performed surgery. If a practical large scale intervention could slow the onset of cataract by ten years, the need for cataract surgery would be reduced by 45%. The causes of cataract are multiple, with nutrition playing a definite role. The usually high concentration of zinc in the ocular tissue, along with zinc deficiency being an established cause of Age Related Macular Degeneration, has led to an increasing interest in this trace element's potential role in Age related cataractogenesis. This study was conducted in The University of Health Sciences in collaboration with The Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore and The University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore. The sample size was 50 patients with senile cataract. Serum of 35 age and sex matched controls were taken. These patients were undergoing trabeculectomy for glaucoma. Zinc levels were measured in the serum, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results supported the hypothesis that zinc deficiency could be one of the factors responsible for the development of senile cataract. Significant difference was observed in serum zinc levels of patients and controls [P < 0.001] showing that the patient serum zinc levels [0.896 +/- 0.202 vs. 0.478 + 0.278.] are significantly lower than the serum zinc levels of controls

Comparison of iron stores in healthy individuals and patients with ischemic heart disease

Excess body iron has been linked to atherosclerosis owing to its pro-oxidative properties. However, inconsistent results have emerged from the epidemiological studies linking iron status and the risk of cardiovascular diseases [CVD]. Objective of the present study is to compare iron stores of healthy individuals and patients with ischaemic heart disease [IHD]. A total of 137 subjects were included in the study, 90 patients of IHD and 47 healthy subjects with no history of IHD as controls. We compared body iron stores of patients and controls. Serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor [sTfR] and sTfR/ferritin ratio were used as measures of body iron stores. Our results revealed that mean serum ferritin concentration of cases was significantly higher than controls. Moreover, mean sTfR and sTfR/ferritin ratio of controls was significantly higher than the patients. We conclude from our results that IHD patients have higher iron stores than healthy subjects suggesting a possible association between high iron stores and the risk of IHD