Protein-Losing Enteropathy as the First Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Resource-Limited Setting in Sri Lanka: A Case Report.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is one of the rare gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which can manifest several years before the diagnosis of SLE. PLE should be suspected in patients with hypoalbuminemia in the absence of urinary protein loss and normal liver functions without any other manifestations of malnutrition. Due to the non-specificity of the imaging and histological findings, it is difficult to diagnose PLE in resource-limited settings.

Characteristics of the initial dengue outbreaks in a region without dengue prior to mid-2009 in a dengue-endemic country.

Introduction: The present study evaluated the characteristics of the initial dengue outbreaks in the Jaffna peninsula, a region without dengue prior to mid-2009 in dengue-endemic Sri Lanka, a tropical island nation.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study conducted using a total of 765 dengue patients' clinical data and samples collected from the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna during the initial dengue outbreaks. Clinical, non-specific, and specific virological laboratory characteristics including the platelet count, NS1 antigen, and anti-DENV IgM/IgG were evaluated as correlates of dengue virus (DENV) infection in the two initial outbreaks of 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 in Northern Sri Lanka.

A feasibility trial of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD in a low resource setting: Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of devising a pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with COPD in a low resource setting (Jaffna, Sri Lanka) and to observe its effects.

Methods: Non-randomized controlled feasibility trial of ambulatory patients with COPD attending the pulmonary outpatient clinic of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Northern Province, Sri Lanka.

Development and validation of a set of patient reported outcome measures to assess effectiveness of asthma prophylaxis.

Background: In the local setting, asthma control is assessed by symptoms and signs elicited by clinicians because of the limited availability of spirometry. Hence, we intended to develop a patient reported outcome measure (PROM) with more holistic interpretation that could also serve as a tool to measure the asthma control in resource limited settings. Therefore, this study was carried out in Northern Sri Lanka to develop and validate the Asthma Control PROM (AC-PROM) Tamil to measure the effectiveness of asthma prophylaxis based on symptoms, exacerbation and limitation of activity which could also serve as an easy measure of asthma control to the provider.

Extensive Superior Vena Caval Territory Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: A Rare Clinical Entity of Haemorrhagic Pancreatitis.

Acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis is a severe form of pancreatitis often encountered in ethanol abuse. Extensive venous thrombosis resulting in pulmonary embolism is a rare presenting clinical entity of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis. Here, we report a young male with an extensive deep vein thrombosis involving superior vena caval territory associated with haemorrhagic pancreatitis presented with pulmonary embolism managed supportively.