Portal vein diameter in the diagnosis of portal hypertension confirmed on serum-ascites albumin concentration gradient in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease

Objective: In patients with chronic liver disease, determine the accuracy of portal vein diameter in the diagnosis of portal hypertension confirmed on Serum-Ascites Albumin Concentration Gradient

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Medicine at AbbasiShaheed Hospital, Karachi for a period of six months from January to June 2012

Materials and Methods: Seventy patients with decompensated CLD were included in this study. The routine testing of ascitic fluid was included total protein, albumin and cell count. All patients underwent ultrasonography of abdomen

Results: The average age of the patients was 48.97 +/- 7.52 years. 47[67.1%] were male and 23[32.9%] were female

In the diagnosis of portal hypertension confirmed by serum ascites albumin of decompensated chronic liver disease 95.7% positive accuracy of portal vein diameter was found

Conclusion: Our study of small predominantly male sample found a very high positive accuracy of portal vein diameter in determining portal hypertension. The results are similar to previous researches that have also shown a higher accuracy rates but slightly lower than our study

Frequency of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic patients by ankle brachial index

To determine the frequency of peripheral artery disease [PAD] in diabetic patients by assessing ankle brachial index [ABI]. Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for a period of six month from September 2011 to March 2012. All type 2 diabetics of more than two years disease duration, on treatment, of either gender, were included between 41 years to 70 years of ages. Peripheral artery disease was assessed by ankle brachial index [ABI]. Frequency and percentages were presented for gender, smoking status, family history of type 2 diabetes and PAD. Mean and standard deviation was presented for age of patients, duration of diabetes and smoking status. Chi square test was used to compare relative frequencies. A total of 125 patients were included with a mean age of 57.10 +/- 8.77 years. 68 [54.4%] were female. Mean duration of diabetes was 4.62 +/- 2.21 years. PAD was found in 74 [59.2%] while 51 [40.8%] patients were free from PAD. A high frequency of PAD was detected in the diabetic subjects with a female pre-ponderance, with statistically significant association with increasing age, hypertension and duration of diabetes

Common carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke

An increase in the intima-media thickness of the common carotid after [CCA-IMT] is generally considered as an early marker of atherosclerosis and has been associated with a higher risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Cross-sectional Study. This study was conducted in Department of Medicine at Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital from June 2011 to December 2011. We determined cross-sectionally the diagnostic ability of CCA-IMT to distinguish between brain infarction and intracerebral haemorrhage. Total 150 patients aged >40 years of both sexes with hemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke were included, while patients with history of endartectomy, head injury, space occupying lesion and on anticoagulation were excluded. All information was recorded on proforma. Thickness of common carotid artery of >/= 0.5 mm was considered significant. Analysis was performed through SPSS-10.0. Frequencies and percentages were computed to present categorical variables including stroke type and wall thickness of common carotid artery in terms of [ 0.5 mm]. Chi-square test was applied to see association of increased CCA-IMT with stroke type. Statistical significance was taken at p < 0.05. Among 150 patients of stroke, 13 [8.7%] patients of left and 8 [5.3%] patients of right had increased CCA-IMT. The CCA-IMT was significantly higher in patients with ischemic stroke patients [p=0.001]. The present results demonstrate the possible predictive power of non-invasive measure meant of CCA-IMT with respect to brain infarction versus intracerebral hemorrhage and deserve further investigation. Despite high prevalence of hypertension in patients with haemorrhagic stroke, increased CCA-IMT which is considered as an early marker of atherosclerosis is strongly related to ischaemic stroke than haemorrhagic stroke