multi slice computed tomography coronary angiographic study of coronary artery disease in soldiers with chest pain

The study is sought to highlight the role and results of MSCT angiography in scenario of acute chest pain to determine or exclude significant coronary artery disease in patients who do not have high risk features for significant coronary disease. Descriptive study. Computed topography department, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, National Institute of Heart Diseases Rawalpindi from September 2013 to December 2013. A total of 150 patients [soldiers] who were referred to this hospital with chest pain and who did not have high risk features were evaluated by multi slice computed coronary angiography. One hundred and fifty patients who reported to this hospital with chest pain were evaluated by multi slice computed tomography [MSCT] angiography. Their age ranged from 20 to 53 years. Cases studied were those having low probability of coronary artery disease. Patients having high probability of coronary disease, acute coronary syndrome or definite coronary artery disease were excluded from this study and were evaluated by conventional coronary angiography, 114 [76%] patients showed normal coronary arteries. 6 [4%] had subcritical coronary disease, 5 [3.33%] had only minor irregularity in coronary arteries, 4 [2.66%] had significant coronary artery disease that necessitated coronary angiogram. 16 [10.66%] cases had muscle bridge in left anterior descending artery. One [0.66%] patient had patent graft after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Three [2%] patient's had patent stents in coronary arteries. While 1[0.66%] patient had aberrant origin of coronary artery. There were no side effects observed during study. Patients presenting with chest pain with low risk features can be studied conveniently with MSCT angiography. Prevalence of significant coronary artery disease is low. MSCT angiography is a very useful, convenient and safe tool to screen low risk patients to rule out presence of significant coronary artery disease

Chronic hepatitis C; response to interferon and ribavirin combination

To know efficacy of combination of standard interferon alpha2b and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C. Prospective and analytical. CMH Bahawalpur. Nov 2008 to Dec 2009. A total of 126 patients, 104 males and 22 females, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were started combination treatment. Of these, 110 [87.3%] completed the treatment while 16 [12.7%] patients couldnot complete the treatment so they were dropped out of this study. Patients were started on Interferon alpha2b in a dose of three million units sub-cutaneous [s/c] thrice a week along with daily Ribavirin 1000 milligram [mg] and 1200 mg orally for patients weighing less or more than 75 kilogram [kg] respectively. The primary outcomes, normalization of ALT and undetectable HCV-RNAby PCR, were determined at end of three and six months of treatment. From Nov 2008 to Dec 2009, a total of 110 patients were treated with combination of Interferon alpha2b and Ribavirin for 24 weeks. Sixty eight patients [62%], 52 males and 12 females showed [end of treatment response] [ETR]. Results of the study show effectiveness of the combination therapy of standard interferon and ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C. Results of this study are comparable to local and international studies