ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency and predictors of pulmonary hypertension in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Pakistani population, presenting at a tertiary care hospital
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Rheumatology, Shiekh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from March to June 2018. A total of 97 patients, who fulfilled the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE] criteria of American College of Rheumatology [ACR] 1992 were enrolled. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension [PAH] was measured by calculating pulmonary arterial systolic pressure through echocardiography by a single consultant cardiologist. Disease characteristics and demography was collected in a self-administered proforma. PAH was defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 25mmHg or above by calculating with a formula. SPSS version 20 was used for analysis of data
Results: Out of 97 patients, 89.7% [n=87] were females and 10.3% [n=10] were males, with mean age of 31.29+/-8.824 years. The mean disease duration was 24.21+/-30.46 months. PAH was found in 23.3% [n=23] patients, including 19 females and 4 males. On further analysis of data, Raynaud phenomenon, rheumatoid factor and nephritis were assessed as predictors of PAH and all of these showed statistical significance for presence of PAH as per Chi-square test [p<0.05]
Conclusion: In this study, 23.3% SLE patients showed evidence of PAH and positive statistical significance was found between predictors like Raynaud phenomenon, rheumatoid factor, nephritis and presence of PAH. So it is imperative to detect PAH early and start prompt treatment to achieve better quality of life
ABSTRACT
Combination therapy of lnterferon alfa and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C has well documented cutaneous adverse effects. Most interesting of these has been reported on hair physiology. This study was conducted to determine the frequency and pattern of adverse effects involving hair in patients receiving combination of interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. The study was conducted in Department of Dermatology, Division of Medicine Shaikh Zayed Hospital. Thirty Eight patients who completed treatment with interferon alfa 3 MIU subcutaneously thrice weekly] and 1200 mg ribavirin daily for 24 weeks were enrolled in this single-center study. The patient's response and examination finding particularly regarding involvement of hair was noted on a Pro forma. Thirty Two out of thirty eight [84%] patients noted adverse effects involving hair. The most frequent was diffuse hair loss and occurred in 27 patients [71 %]. Hypertrichosis of eyelashes [trichomegaly] and eyebrows [synophyrs] was observed in 18 [47%] and 16 [42%] patients respectively. Graying of hair was noted in 4 patients [11 %], while discoloration of moustache hair was seen in 2 patients [5%]. Epilation at the site of subcutaneous injection was noted in 10 patients [26%]. Alopecia areata was reported in 2 patients [5%]. It is concluded that adverse effects involving hair are frequent and varied [hair loss to excess hair growth] during combination therapy with Interferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study was done to assess the frequency of symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in earthquake survivors
Design and place of study: It was an observational study conducted on in-patient survivors of Oct 8. 2005 earthquake, admitted in different departments of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore affiliated with Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute
Subject and methods: The patients who had received different physical injuries and their surviving attendants were administered with a check-list of symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV
Results: A total of 124 survivors [85 patients and 39 attendants] were identified and administered with the check-list. In all 52 [41.94%] of the survivors, 38 [44.77%] of patients and 14 [35.90%] of the attendants fulfilled the entire DSM-IV symptom criteria for PTSD. Among the patients more females i.e. 27 [52.94%] as compared to males i.e. 11 [32.32%] fulfilled the symptom criteria for PTSD
Conclusion: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms are very common in the survivors of an earthquake, an evidence to sensitize health care providers to organize and implement timely psychosocial assessment and interventions
ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to determine the uric acid profile in patients with unexplained chronic musculoskeletal complaints, and to establish any possible causal role for altered uric acid profile in such patients. Method: A comparative study of 36 patients and 36 controls of both sexes and ages between 25-60 years was carried out at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from November 2001-May 2002. Patient included were those who had at least 4-24 weeks duration of complaints. Uric acid profile for serum uric acid, uric acid excretion, uric acid clearance and total uric acid production was done. Additional tests included renal functions test, liver function test, cardiac enzymes, haematology and serology to exclude other underlying causes of complaints. Mean serum uric acid levels were higher in patients as compared to controls [p=0.05], with 9 [25%] patients showing hyperuricemia. Uric acid clearance [female patients 5.86+0.42 ml/min, female controls 8.06+0.24 ml/min] and daily uric acid excretion [female patients 412.38+28.52 mg/24 hours, female controls 487.79+18.64 mg/24 hours] in female patients was significantly lower than control females [P=0.034 and P<0.001 respectively]. Twenty patients [55.55%, 3 males and 17 females] were classified as under excretors of uric acid, while there were no under excretors in the control group [p<0.001]. We conclude that abnormalities of uric acid profile, particularly under excretor status may be an underlying biochemical abnormality in a significant number of patients. Female patients appear more predisposed to abnormal uric acid profile such as hyperuricemia and under excretor status