Frequency of hepatitis B and C in selected groups of population in NWFP, Pakistan

To determine the frequency of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in selected groups of population in NWFP. Material and We analyzed our unpublished data as well as searched out local data, published till December 2006, to know the frequency of Hepatitis B and C in. NWFP in the following groups: 1] general population, 2] healthy blood donors, 3] pre-procedure screening, 4] patients with liver diseases, and 5] high risk populations like thalassaemia. We found 2.28% prevalence for hepatitis B virus [HBV] and 3.19% for hepatitis C virus [HCV] in general population, 1.83% [HBV] and 2.34% [HCV] in healthy blood donors, 2.09% [HBV] and 4.06% [HCV] in screening data, 27.55% [HBV] and 48.78% [HCV] in chronic hepatitis patients, 26.56% [HBV] and 51.09% [HCV] in liver cirrhosis, 14.28% [HBV] and 67.86% [HCV] in hepatoma, and 6.7% [HBV] and 40.9% [HCV] in children with thalassaemia requiring multiple transfusions. We conclude that HCV and HBV has become one of the major problems in NWFP like the rest of the country, resulting in chronic liver disease and its complications

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic assessment of patients presenting with dyspepsia

To evaluate common causes of dyspepsia and to correlate endoscopic findings with histological examination of biopsy specimens. Material and This observational descriptive study was conducted at department of medicine Khyber Teaching hospital Peshawar, from 1st June 2006 to 31st December 2006. Detailed history, thorough physical examination and relevant investigations were done in each patient. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy. Biopsies were taken in every patient from oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Histological examination was done from single pathologist. The endoscopic findings of 50 patients with dyspepsia were studied. Out of 50 patients, 35[70%] were males while 15[30%] were females. Eighty two percent [41/50] were in the age group of 30-50 years. The most common presentations were epigastric pain in 45 [90%] cases, heartburn in 36 [72%] and flatulence in 35 [70%] cases. The endoscopic findings were normal in 25 [50%] patients. The abnormal findings included esophagitis in 6 [12%] patients, gastric ulcer in 5 [10%] patients, duodenal ulcer in 4 [8%] patients, gastritis in 4 [8%] patients and duodenitis in 2 [4%] patients; while esophagogastritis, gastroduodenitis, esophagogastroduodenitis and carcinoma stomach were present in 1 [2%] patient each. All the endoscopically abnormal as well as normal findings were confirmed by histopathology. The endoscopic findings were normal in majority of patients with dyspepsia. The common abnormal endoscopic findings included esophagitis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastritis. The endoscopic findings were, matching with histological diagnosis