Evaluation of clopidogrel in inhibition of platelet aggregation

Evaluation of in-vivo therapeutic effects of Clopidogrel 75mg [Lowplat] given once daily for seven days to the patients requiring antiplatetet therapy. This is an open label, multicenter study to determine the platelet aggregation inhibition of the study drug in adult subjects suffering from diseases requiring antiplatelet therapy i.e. coronary artery diseases [CAD], peripheral vascular diseases [PVD] and cerebro vascular accident [CVA], presented at different hospitals and clinics in Faisalabad. Mean platelet aggregation inhibited by [LP] was 66% [P <0.001] and standard deviation was +/- 10%, which is statistically significant. This study proves that the Lowplat [LP] is effective in reducing platelet aggregation significantly in Pakistani patients' who require antiplatelet therapy. The cost benefit of locally manufactured drug may be passed on to the patients

Profile of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction [EHPVO] in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

To study the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with EHPVO in a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan and to differentiate EHPVO from cirrhosis of liver and to see the effect on liver function tests. This is a prospective observational study conducted at Department of Gastroenterology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad.Twenty five patients of 12-55 years of age with the features of portal hypertension were included in this study. After careful history and physical examination patients were subjected for laboratory investigations including liver function test, renal function test, blood CP, PT, APTT, HbsAg and anti HCV, other specialized procedures including endoscopy, liver biopsy and ultra sound was also done in all patients. Portal vein thrombosis was the predominant cause of EHPVO, accounting for 88% of cases. All patients were presented with upper GI bleeding, splenomegaly was observed in 88% of patients. None of the patients had clinical, biochemical or liver biopsy evidence of chronic liver disease. The diagnosis of extra hepatic portal venous obstruction and differentiation from cirrhosis can be easily made by characteristic clinical features, normal liver function tests and doppler ultrasound. Portal vein thrombosis [PVT] is the predominant cause of EHPVO in Pakistani patients, as seen at this tertiary care hospital in Pakistan