Objective: To find out the echo abnormalities in a south Asian cohort on maintenance hemodialysis in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Abbottabad, from Feb 2022 to Apr 2022. Methodology: 57 adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis had a non-contrast transthoracic echocardiographic study recording parameters of left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Results: We had 57 patients. 71.9% (n=41) were male, and females 28.1% (n=16), diabetics 47.4 % (n=27), hypertensives 84.2%(n=48), smoking 28.1% (n=16); 15.8%(n=9) had some form of ischemic heart disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy was noted in 78.9% (n=45) of the entire patient population. 84% (n=48) of hypertensive patients had LVH. Overall, 82% (n=47) of hypertensive patients had some degree of diastolic dysfunction compared to non-hypertensive patients (p<0.0001). Diastolic dysfunction of Grades I, II, III was seen in 35.1%(n=20), 29.8%(n=17), 17.5% (n=10). Mean E/e' ratio was 24.9±15, with 40.3%(n=23) having a value ≥15. The LV systolic dysfunction noted was: Mild 26.3%(n=15), Moderate 19.3%(n=11), Severe 1.8%(n=1). For the medial mitral annular systolic velocity(s’) 19.3%(n=11) had normal s’, while 80.7%(n=46) had reduced s’.The mean Pulmonary artery acceleration time (PA-AT) was was <100 ms in 68.4%(n=39). The mean tricuspid plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was < 17 mm in 19.3%(n=11) of patients indicating RV systolic dysfunction. The Minimum PASP was 16, max 64, mean 41.5±14mm Hg. Conclusion: In our study of CKD patients on regular hemodialysis, we found high rates of LVH, DD, LV systolic dysfunction,RV systolic function, and pulmonary hypertension. This creates a case for a larger scale study of these patients in a south Asian cohort as well as institution of a screening program in CKD patients on hemodialysis.

Aortic valve and mitral annular calcification are commonly seen in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease and/ or altered calcium hemostasis. Extensive myocardial calcification is rare. We present a case of an elderly female who presented with sepsis and heart failure on a clinical background of chronic kidney disease and showed extensive myocardial calcification on multi-modality imaging, leading to severe impairment in systolic and diastolic function with restrictive physiology. Conclusion: Myocardial calcification is an under diagnosed entity that leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. Modern imaging methods allow a prompt diagnosis but a high index of suspicion has to be maintained for accurate detection of medical condition.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis symptoms.Study Design: Prospective comparative study.Place and Duration of Study: Rheumatology/General Medicine department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from May 2019 to Jun 2020.Methodology: Patient of knee osteoarthritis with active symptoms of pain and stiffness who fulfilled American college of rheumatology criteria of 1997 were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups with group A receiving intraarticular hyaluronic acid. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was administered before and three months after the management to assess the efficacy of treatment in both the groups. Student ttest was applied to ascertain that the difference in the WOMAC scores before and after the management has been statistically significantly different in both groups. Results: A total of 150 patients of osteoarthritis of knee joint were included in the study. Mean age of the study participants was 58.439 ± 7.35. 85 (56.7%) patients were female while 65 (43.3%) were male. 81 (54%) received the intraarticular hyaluronic Acid while 69 (46%) received the intraarticular steroids. Mean difference before and after the management in WOMAC score in corticosteroids group was 9.295 ± 1.24 while in hyaluronic Acid group was 5.41 ± 4.556 (p-value <0.01). Conclusion: Both hyaluronic Acid and corticosteroids were effective to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis knee in our target population, but intraarticular steroids emerged as the better option from the two in terms of.......