ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from Sep 2012 to Feb 2013 over a period of six months
Material and Methods: In this study, one hundred and sixty five diagnosed patients of diabetic polyneuropathy presenting to medical OPD with complaints of paresthesia/numbness/pain in hands were recruited. All patients fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. They underwent electrophysiological examination according to American Association of Electro Diagnostic Medicine to determine the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS 17
Results: Out of 165 patients, 112 [68%] were females and 53 [32%] were males with the age ranging from 37-60 years [mean age and SD 51.55 +/- 6.3]. The frequency of CTS in our patients was 40% [66 patients]. Thirty seven [56.1%] patients had right hand involvement and it was bilateral in 22 [33.3%] patients, of the 66 subjects with CTS, 48 [72.7%] were females. In patients who had CTS, mean duration of diabetes was longer as compared to the remainder [12.09 +/- 7.4 years vs. 9.07 +/- 5.0 years, p=0.002]
Conclusion: Carpal tunnel syndrome was common finding in diabetic patients. On the basis of our results, we recommend that a search for possible coexistent CTS in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy should always be made
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of Rheumatoid Factor [RF] in patients with Hepatitis C infection [HCV] associated polyarthropathy at Combined Military Hospital Quetta
Study Design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Quetta, from 1st Oct 2012 to 31st Mar 2013
Material and Methods: Two hundred and seven patients having confirmed Hepatitis C infection [positive anti HCV antibodies and positive HCV RNA by Qualitative PCR] with polyarthropathy were included in this study. These patients were screened for RF by immunonochromatography based RF Latex assay kit
Results: Out of 207 patients, 138 [66.67%] were males and 69 [33.33%] were females. The age among all subjects ranged from 21-55 years and mean age of all subjects was 44.29 +/- 4.61 years, the youngest patient was 21 years old and eldest was 55 years old. Most of the patients 97 [47%] were in the age group of 36-45 years. RF was positive in 88 [42.51%] patients and it was negative in 119 [57.49%] patients suffering from hepatitis C infection associated polyarthropathy. The frequency of RF in female patients was 66 [48%] and in male patients was 22 [32%] and it was significantly [p-value=0.0367] greater in female patients as compared to male patients
Conclusion: The detection of Rheumatoid Factor [RF] is of little utility as a diagnostic tool for concurrent RA in patients of chronic HCV infection because a high percentage of them were having serum RF reactivity