Histological and laboratory features of patients undergoing liver biopsy at a University Hospital in Central Saudi Arabia

To identify the most common liver pathologies seen in our center, to find the prevalence of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, and to correlate the histological and laboratory features of the most common diseases and compare between them. Liver biopsy procedures performed in our Gastroenterology Unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were traced from records between the years 1997-2003. Clinical, histopathological, and laboratory features were recorded. We identified 574 liver biopsies during the study period. Of the 502 included patients, males were 58.6%. The mean age of the patients was 43.5 years. Approximately half of the biopsies [49%] were performed for patients with hepatitis C, followed by hepatitis B, for which 17% of the biopsies were performed. Patients with hepatitis B were approximately 10 years younger than patients with hepatitis C [p=0.01]. They were 10% more likely to be males. In terms of fibrosis, only approximately 17% of patients with hepatitis B and 27% of patients with hepatitis C had advanced fibrosis. Most liver biopsies performed in our center are performed for patients with hepatitis C. Rates of advanced fibrosis in our series are significantly lower than what was previously reported in other studies

Clinical study of retinal breaks in Saudi Arabia

A total of 330 normal, asymptomatic young Saudi male high school students [660 eyes] were examined ophthalmologically, with special emphasis on the peripheral retina. Mean age was 18 years, with a range of 15 to 20 years. Retinal breaks were found in 21 subjects [6.4%]. Two cases were bilateral. Thus, 3.5% of the 660 eyes had retinal breaks. The majority of these [78.3%] were atrophic holes, 38.9% of which were found within areas of lattice degeneration. The quadrant most commonly involved was the inferotmporal, followed by the superotemporal and superonasal quadrants, in that order; no atrophic retinal holes were found in the inferonasal quadrant. Operculated holes were present in 17.4% of eyes with retinal breaks and horseshoe tears were found in 4.3%. Eyes with retinal breaks tended to be myopic more frequently than those without. Prophylactic treatment for asymptomatic retinal breaks is discussed