MELD era: is this time to replace the original Child-Pugh score in patients with decompensated cirrhosis of liver.

Objective: To compare the predictive value of MELD (Model of end stage liver disease) and Child-Pugh (CP) scores in patients with decompensated cirrhosis of liver.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Medical Department, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro/ Hyderabad, from August 2006 to October 2007.

Frequency of hyponatraemia and its influence on liver cirrhosis-related complications.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency, clinical associations and prognostic impact of hyponatraemia on cirrhosis related complications in patients with cirrhosis of liver.

Methods: In this case control study 217 cirrhotic patients consecutively admitted to our department from September 2006 to November 2007 were studied. Serum sodium levels were determined in all patients admitted.

Serum zinc and magnesium in type-2 diabetic patients.

Objective: To assess serum zinc and magnesium level in type-2 diabetic patients and the effect of age, gender, glycemic control and duration of diabetes on these trace elements in comparison with those of control subjects.

Study Design: Non-interventional case control study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, from October 2007 to March 2008.

Validation of three non-invasive markers in assessing the severity of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To compare various biochemical markers i.e. APRI (AST to platelet ratio index), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, FIB-4 (AST, platelet, AST and age) with biopsy for assessing the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C.

Evaluation of creatinine-modified Child Pugh score for predicting short-term prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis of liver as compare to original child Pugh score.

Background: Original Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score has traditionally being used as a useful tool to assess prognosis in cirrhotic patients but the serum creatinine level has recently seen as an important predictor of survival in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy ofCP and modified CP score for predicting in hospital survival as well as cirrhosis related complications such as encephalopathy, haematemesis and ascites in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. It was Descriptive case series.

Frequency of thyroid disorders during interferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C infection.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of thyroid dysfunction in response to combination of interferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and HCV outcome.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: This study was conducted at Outpatient Department of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad from September 2005 to September 2007.