Comparison of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis c patients with and without cirrhosis

Background: Thrombocytopenia may be one of the manifestation of chronic hepatitis infection

Objective: To assess thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C with and without cirrhosis

Methodology: Study Design: Cross Sectional study: Place and Duration: Department of Gastroenterology at Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore from 1[st] January 2009 to 28[th] February 2010. One hundred known patients of HCV in which 64 male and 36 were females with chronic hepatitis C confirmed HCV [RNA] positive. Among these fifty had chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis, 50 without cirrhosis and 30 normal HCV negative individuals for comparison. All patients were analyzed for Hemoglobin, total leukocyte count and platelet count and ultrasound findings of with imaging for liver cirrhosis. Data was analyzed in statistical program SPSS version 16.0

Results: The results of this study have shown that there was a significant difference of mean platelets count. Platelets of patients with cirrhosis have mean platelets 88.25 +/- 25.39 with mean age 50.33, mean platelets of patients with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis have 142.68 +/- 50.69 with mean age 40.93 and mean platelets of control group was 265.30 +/- 34.55 [P-<.001] with mean age 39.07 years

Conclusion: Our study suggested that chronic hepatitis C is associated with thrombocytopenia. As the disease advances, the platelet count significantly decreases

Human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG]: a treatment of oligospermia

The most commonly accepted definition of the term infertility is the lack of pregnancy [regardless of cause] after one year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples of reproductive age. Its prevalence has been stable during the past 50 years, although a shift in etiology and in the age of the patient has occurred. In Pakistan there are roughly 10-15% newly married couples who require some kind of medical help before they can become parents. Even if the wife is fertile and the husband is normal, there is roughly 1 in 3 chances the wife will conceive. A total of 17 patients were diagnosed for Oligospermia and were placed in one group. 5000 IU of hCG were administered intramuscularly once a week for four month. Every month serum testosterone and semen count was analyzed. Progressive increase of semen count was observed in four month. hCG though, never produced in male but has significant effect on spermatogenesis via LH receptor. Initial value of 25 million/ml roused to 69 million/ml in just four month. Use of hCG in male infertility is though common world wide but it has not gained its popularity in Pakistan. General awareness of its usage especially among physicians treating infertility is required