Comparison of QTC Interval Prolongation in Cirrhotic and Non-Cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Objective: To determine frequency of QTc interval prolongation in hepatitis C infection. To compare QTc interval prolongation in patients with cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis c infectionStudy design: Descriptive Case SeriesSetting: Medical Unit-III, Fauji Foundation Hospital, RawalpindiDuration of study: 06 months duration of study i.e 10th May, 2017 to 10th Nov, 2017Methodology: Patients having chronic hepatitis c infection with cirrhosis was taken from medical ward and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis c infection was taken from general medical OPD. Consent was taken. For QTc interval calculation ECG was performed by ECG technician having 22 years of experience as ECG technician in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. Information was recorded on the form. The variable of interest was age, gender, cirrhosis, QTc interval and comparison of prolongation of QTc between hepatitis c positive cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Results: Total 110 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Mean age (years) in the study was 56.84+11.05. There were 48 (43.6) male and 62 (56.4) female patients who were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Mean duration of QTc interval was 0.48+0.04. Out of 110 patients, there were 27 (24.5) patients who have prolonged QTc interval. The frequency of QTc interval prolongation in patients with cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C infection was 22 (57.9) and 05 (6.9) respectively which was statistically significant (p-value 0.000).Conclusion: The study concludes that QTc interval prolongation in cirrhotic patients was high which showed that cirrhotic patients are at risk of developing ventricular arrhythmias due to cardiomyopathy, so a simple ECG test can be used to diagnose and prevent cardiac events in cirrhotic patients as it is simple as well as easily available.Keywords: Cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, Prolonged QT interval, non-cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Infectio

Celiac Disease and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To determine the frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients and to compare the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: Unit-II, Department of Medicine, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad. from 16th June 2016 to 16th December 2016 Methodology: Patients were recruited through medical and diabetes OPDs and medical wards. All the relevant information was recorded on a Proforma. In all type 1 diabetics a sample of blood was sent to AFIP for the determination of Anti-tTG (IgA) antibodies; using a commercially available ELISA technique (Pharmacia Upjohn, Sweden) based on recombinant human tTG as antigen. The measuring range of this test is 0.1 - 100 U/ml. We used the cut-offs: anti-tTG IgA ≤ 10 U/ml were considered negative, > 10 U/ml was considered positive. The assay was a quantitative assay. On the same visit, another blood sample was sent for HbA1C estimation.  Results: Total 160 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Mean age (years) in the study was 26.58+9.13. There were 83 (51.9) male and 77 (48.1) female patients who were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. The frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients was 42 (26.3) in the study whereas the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone was 26 (61.9) and 31 (26.3) respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that the prevalence of celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus in our own population is high. Furthermore, gluten-free diet effects on glycemic control of type 1 diabetic patients which in screening for celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients and to decreased risk of complication of diabetes.&nbsp

Comparison of QTC Interval Prolongation in Cirrhotic and Non-Cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Objective: To determine frequency of QTc interval prolongation in hepatitis C infection. To compare QTc interval prolongation in patients with cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis c infectionStudy design: Descriptive Case SeriesSetting: Medical Unit-III, Fauji Foundation Hospital, RawalpindiDuration of study: 06 months duration of study i.e 10th May, 2017 to 10th Nov, 2017Methodology: Patients having chronic hepatitis c infection with cirrhosis was taken from medical ward and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis c infection was taken from general medical OPD. Consent was taken. For QTc interval calculation ECG was performed by ECG technician having 22 years of experience as ECG technician in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. Information was recorded on the form. The variable of interest was age, gender, cirrhosis, QTc interval and comparison of prolongation of QTc between hepatitis c positive cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Results: Total 110 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Mean age (years) in the study was 56.84+11.05. There were 48 (43.6) male and 62 (56.4) female patients who were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Mean duration of QTc interval was 0.48+0.04. Out of 110 patients, there were 27 (24.5) patients who have prolonged QTc interval. The frequency of QTc interval prolongation in patients with cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C infection was 22 (57.9) and 05 (6.9) respectively which was statistically significant (p-value 0.000).Conclusion: The study concludes that QTc interval prolongation in cirrhotic patients was high which showed that cirrhotic patients are at risk of developing ventricular arrhythmias due to cardiomyopathy, so a simple ECG test can be used to diagnose and prevent cardiac events in cirrhotic patients as it is simple as well as easily available.Keywords: Cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, Prolonged QT interval, non-cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Infectio

Celiac Disease and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To determine the frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients and to compare the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: Unit-II, Department of Medicine, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad. from 16th June 2016 to 16th December 2016 Methodology: Patients were recruited through medical and diabetes OPDs and medical wards. All the relevant information was recorded on a Proforma. In all type 1 diabetics a sample of blood was sent to AFIP for the determination of Anti-tTG (IgA) antibodies; using a commercially available ELISA technique (Pharmacia Upjohn, Sweden) based on recombinant human tTG as antigen. The measuring range of this test is 0.1 - 100 U/ml. We used the cut-offs: anti-tTG IgA ≤ 10 U/ml were considered negative, > 10 U/ml was considered positive. The assay was a quantitative assay. On the same visit, another blood sample was sent for HbA1C estimation.  Results: Total 160 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Mean age (years) in the study was 26.58+9.13. There were 83 (51.9) male and 77 (48.1) female patients who were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. The frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients was 42 (26.3) in the study whereas the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone was 26 (61.9) and 31 (26.3) respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that the prevalence of celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus in our own population is high. Furthermore, gluten-free diet effects on glycemic control of type 1 diabetic patients which in screening for celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients and to decreased risk of complication of diabetes.&nbsp