Infectious diseases presenting by fever and hepatomegaly

The present study included 51 patients presenting by infectious fever and hepatomegaly. They were admitted to Abbassia and Embaba Fever Hospitals. Patients were subjected to careful history, thorough clinical examination, complete blood picture, urine and stool examination, repeated blood, urine and stool cultures during fever spikes. Slide and tube agglutination test for typhoid and brucella fevers. Mononucleosis diseases were diagnosed by Monospot test, Epstein Barr IgM and G, Cytomegalovirus IgM and G and Toxoplasmosis by indirect fluorescent test. Abdominal U.S., C.T scan and bone marrow examination whenever needed. Fifty one cases included 31[61%] bacterial cases, 12 [23%] mononucleosis cases and 8 [16%] parasitic cases. Thirty one bacterial group included 11[35%] brucella cases, 7 [23%] extrapulmonary tuberculosis, 5 [16%] urinary tract infection, 4 [13%] gram negative septicaemia and 4 [13%] deep seated abscesses. Twelve cases of mononucleosis cases included 6 [50%] infectious mononucleosis, 4 [33%] cytomegalovirus and 2 [17%] toxoplasmosis cases. Eight cases of parasitological group included 4 [50%] malaria cases, 2 [25%] fasciola cases, 1 [12.5%] amoebic liver abscess and 1 [12.5%] due to kala azar. Two [4%] cases died in our series; 1 due to gram negative septicaemia and the other due to kala azar. Cases are discussed and interpreted

Effect of hepatitis-C viral infection on platelets

This study was conducted on 35 patients with established chronic liver diseases due to hepatitis C. Their ages ranged from 20 to 60 years. A full clinical assessment, ultrasound, complete blond picture including platelet number and functions, liver function tests [SGOT, SGPT, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and prothrombin time and concentration] were applied for every patient. Hepatitis markers for B and C and PCR for HCV and, lastly, liver biopsy were also detected. They were classified into three groups [according to their platelet number]: Group I [12 patients] with platelet count 151-350,000/mm3, group II [13 patients] with platelet count 80-140,000/mm3, and group III [10 patients] with platelet count 25-79,000/mm3. The three groups were statistically compared regarding platelet number, platelet aggregation, liver function tests, histopathological study and correlation between platelet number and aggregation. The results revealed a direct correlation between liver span and platelet number and platelet aggregation. Inverse correlations were noticed between spleen size and portal vein diameter and platelet count and aggregation. Direct correlations were present between platelet number, aggregation and liver function tests [prothrombin time, SGPT, S. Bilirubin, OT/PT ratio and albumin], but there was no correlation with SGOT