Comprehensive overview of IRVAN syndrome: a structured review of Case Reports and Case Series.

Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome is a rare spectrum of retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis affecting young individuals in their third decade. Most of our current knowledge is based on case reports, case series, and a handful of collaborative studies. There is much diversity in treatment approaches and outcomes in the reported literature.

Surgical Management of Odontoid Fracture in Elderly.

Odontoid type II fractures are associated with high mortality in the elderly. No formal guidelines are present regarding the treatment of such fractures. Their management can be done either conservatively or surgically, however, surgical treatment is technically demanding and relatively new.

A long-term profile of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the symptom profile, course and prognosis of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) over a 15 years period.

Study Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from 1996 to 2011.

Psychological implications of hepatitis C virus diagnosis.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis causes significant psychological stress and anxiety. We thought it would be important to illustrate the anxiety caused by HCV diagnosis in patients from the developing world.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, between February 2004 and April 2004.

Interspousal transmission of hepatitis C virus.

Objective: To estimate the sero-prevalence of anti-HCV among the spouses of HCV positive patients.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2001 to January 2004.

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in patients on long-term hemodialysis.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients on hemodialysis at Shifa International Hospital and determine the association of various risk factors in the acquisition of hepatitis C infection.

Design: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital from January 2002 to June 2003.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: nine years experience in a tertiary care centre in Pakistan.

Objective: To review the experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement and its management in the last nine years, at a tertiary care center in Pakistan.

Methods: All patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy from January 1995 to January 2004 at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, were included in this study. The indications, technique, complications and follow up were reviewed.

Successful treatment of resistant chronic hepatitis C virus infection with high dose pegylated interferon.

We present the case of a 49 years old male, who was HCV RNA positive with an ALT of 260, showing no response to standard interferon (INF) plus ribavirin treatment for 48 weeks and to a further therapy with high dose standard IFN plus ribavirin for 24 weeks. Pegylated (PEG) IFN was then started at a dose of 80 mcg/week with ribavirin, but proved to be of no avail. Finally, a dose of 120 mcg/week of PEG INF and ribavirin was administered for 48 weeks.

General seroprevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections in population.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by detection of anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) in general population of Pakistan.

Design: Observational.

Place And Duration Of Study: Community clinic of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 1998 to June 2004.

Serological profile of incidentally detected asymptomatic HBsAg positive subjects (IDAHS).

Objective: To evaluate the serological profile of patients with incidentally detected positive hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) and to asses the risk factors.

Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: This study was conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from 1999 to 2003.

Tropical sprue: revisited.

Objective: To review the experience of patients presenting with clinical manifestations of tropical sprue and assess their diagnosis and management, response to treatment and follow up.

Methods: This single center retrospective descriptive study was done at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from January 1994 to January 2003. All patients who presented with diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss and anemia and who proved to have partial villous atrophy on intestinal biopsy and had responded to treatment with antibiotic and folic acid,were included in this review.

Steatosis and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Objective: To asses the presence of steatosis and other histological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Liver biopsy samples were reviewed for presence of steatosis, its degree and other histological changes of hepatitis C including necro-inflammatory score, fibrosis grade and these changes were correlated with liver function tests.

Results: A total of 109 liver biopsy samples were reviewed.

Endoscopic dilation of esophageal strictures.

Objective: To review the experience of endoscopic dilation of esophageal strictures at a tertiary care hospital.

Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad January 1985 to January 2003.

Chronic liver disease related mortality pattern in Northern Pakistan.

Objective: To describe the mortality pattern pertaining to chronic liver disease (CLD) in Northern Pakistan.

Design: descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from August 01, 2001 to July 31, 2002.

Serum aminotransferase levels and platelet count as predictive factor of fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Objective: To assess the ratio of aminotransferases in combination with platelets count as a predictive factor for stages of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Methods: A total of 266 patients were evaluated retrospectively who had undergone liver biopsy as a part of their evaluation for the management of chronic hepatitis C infection at Shifa International Hospital from 1998 to 2002. All these patients had complete blood counts and liver function tests including transaminases.

Effectiveness of 48 weeks Interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin as initial treatment of chronic hepatitis.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a common problem worldwide and is becoming an increasingly common problem in Pakistan. This study was done to evaluate effectiveness and safety of 48 weeks combination treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin as initial therapy of chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated and treated with combination of Interferon Alfa 2-b three million units subcutaneously three injection weekly and Ribavirin 800-1200 mg orally daily for 48 weeks and followed for another 6 months.