Hepatocellular carcinoma; different child-pugh classes based on alpha-fetoprotein level

To determine the frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma in different Child-Pugh classes based on Alfa fetoprotein level. Case series study. Six months. Medical Unit-I of Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan. A total of 100 patients admitted [inpatients] in Medical Unit I with the diagnosis of cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. Patients with cirrhosis of liver [more than six month duration] of either gender were included. If patients had metastatic lesion of the liver, liver abscess, or acute liver failure then they were excluded. Child-Pugh score was calculated which included ascites, encephalopathy, prothrombin time, albumin and serum bilirubin. The levels of alpha-fetoprotein were measured and HCC was diagnosed. The primary outcome variable was presence of HCC in cirrhotic patients. The proportion of males [53%] was higher as compared to females [47%]. The mean age of the study patients was 40.47 years with a standard deviation of 11.5. At the beginning patients were categorized according to Child Pugh Classes [A= up to 6, B=7-9 and C=10-11], age groups [15-30 years, 31-50 years and 51- 70 years respectively]. The mean Child Pugh score was 6.83 with +/- 1.8 S.D. The majority of the cases of HCC [75.61%] occurred in the Child Class A, whereas 21.95% occurred in Child Class B and finally only one case of HCC [2.44%] was present in Child Class C. This study comprehensively demonstrated that hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is far more common in compensated cirrhosis [Child Pugh Class A] vs. decompensated cirrhosis [Child Pugh Class B and C]

Dyslipidemia; Helicobacter pylori infected patients

To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia in Helicobacter pylori infected patients. This cross sectional descriptive study of six months study was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad from 01-03-2012 to 31-08- 2012. All the patients between 19 to 60 years of age present with symptoms of dyspepsia, bloating or epigastric discomfort for more than 01 week duration were admitted and evaluated for Helicobacter pylori infection. Thereafter the positive cases [Helicobacter pylori infected patients] were further evaluated for dyslipidemia. During six month study period, total 144 patients [95 males and 49 females] with Helicobacter pylori infection were evaluated for dyslipidemia [lipid profile]. Majority of patients were from urban areas 110/144 [76%]. The mean +/- SD for age of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection was 35.94 +/- 10.77. The mean age +/- SD of dyslipidemic patient was 32.62 +/- 6.52. The dyslipidemia was identified in 87 [60.4%] patients, of which 51[58.6%] were males and 36[41.4%] were females. Regarding the pattern of dyslipidemia, ten [11.4%] patients had raised serum triglycerides level, twenty eight [32%] had raised LDL-C level, twenty six [28.9%] had raised serum cholesterol level, seven [8.7%] had low HDL-C level and sixteen [18.3%] had mixed dyslipidemia. The mean +/- SD of hypertriglyceridemia, [Upwards Arrow] HDL-C, [Upwards Arrow] LDL-C and hypercholesterolemia in dyslipidemic Helicobacter pylori infected was 280.72 +/- 22.85, 24.21 +/- 2.63, 180.63 +/- 12.98 and 285.21 +/- 23.63 respectively. The H. pylori infected patients are prone to acquire dyslipidemia, therefore the present study observed 60.4% prevalence of dyslipidemia with male predominance [58.6%]