ABSTRACT
To study the frequency of IgA nephropathy in relation to seasonal variation and its clinico-pathological profile at Military Hospital Rawalpindi. A descriptive study. Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Jan 2010 to Mar 2012. The study was conducted at Military Hospital Rawalpindi on 289 consecutive renal biopsy specimens. Ultrasound
ABSTRACT
To compare the response to Interferon Alfa [IFN] and Ribavirin [RBV] combination therapy in patients of chronic HCV infection with fibrosis stage 1 [F1] and stage 2 [F2] with fibrosis stage 3 [F3] and stage 4 [F4]. Quasi-experimental study. Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2004 to Jun 2004. Forty patients of chronic hepatitis C were selected on the basis of raised ALT, presence of anti-HCV antibodies, detection of viral RNA on PCR and liver biopsy. They were divided into 2 groups on the basis of stage of fibrosis. Group A constituted 20 patients with fibrosis stage 1 and 2 and group B constituted 20 patients with fibrosis stage 3 and 4. Interferon Alfa 03 Million units subcutaneously three times a week and Ribavirin 1200 mg orally per day in divided doses for patients who weigh 75 kg and 1000 mg for those weighing less than 75 kg for six months was administered. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for HCV RNA was performed at 0 and 6th months at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi. At completion of treatment, HCV-RNA levels in serum were not detectable in 14 of 20 [70%] patients in group A as compared to 07 of 20 [35%] patients in group B who received interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Patients with early fibrosis on liver biopsy have better response to IFN- Ribavirin therapy compared to patients with advanced fibrosis