DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY UNIT-I
Prof. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi MBBS, BSc, MCPS, MD Professor & Chairman of the Department

Brief History and Introduction

The department was founded by the Late Professor Emeritus Syed Ghulam Shabbir in 1960, as the subject of dermatology was declared as an essential specialty of medicine for the patients. However, the present building of the department was completed in 1970. The Department is the Largest Skin Unit in this country which has assumed the status of referral centre for the diagnostically and therapeutically difficult cases from all over Pakistan. There is a 60-bedded in-patient department where around 1000 patients are admitted annually.

In addition to teaching undergraduates, the department also imparts postgraduate training for FCPS, MD and MCPS. There are about 50 qualified FCPS Dermatologists in the country. Among them, 30 have been trained in this department. Besides this, 40 MCPS and 2 MD in the subject received their grooming here. Recently, the department has started working on Teledermatology under the supervision of Professor Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi. It is heartening to note that these qualified dermatologists have taken up their assignments as heads of various departments round the country. Moreover, nurses, family physicians & postgraduates from other disciplines of medicine and ophthalmology get their compulsory training for dermatology in this department. The department is also actively engaged in research projects and more than 100 papers have been published in the National and International Journals.

Faculty List

S.NO. NAME DESIGNATION QUALIFICATIONS

1. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi Professor BSc, MBBS, MCPS, MD

2. Dr. Shahbaz Aman Assistant Professor MBBS, MCPS, FCPS

3. Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Assistant Professor MBBS, FCPS

4. Dr. M. Saleem Khan Senior Registrar MBBS, FCPS

From Left to Right
1st Row: Dr. Zahida Rani, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem, Dr. Shahbaz Aman, Prof. Atif Hasnain Kazmi, Dr. Ijaz Hussain, Dr. M. Saleem Khan, Dr. Khalid Mahmood
2nd Row: Dr. Asif Raheem, Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Sajida, Dr. Masood Sohail, Dr. Usma Iftikhar, Dr. Neelofar Nazim, Dr. Shehla Shaukat, Dr. Sameera Naveed
3rd Row: Dr. Ali Raza, Dr. Asim Sohail, Dr. Kanwal Khalid, Dr. Samreen, Dr. Huma Ashraf, Dr. Asmat-ullah Qazi, Dr. Shaukat Mahmood
4th Row: Dr. Sadaf, Dr. Afshan, Dr. Nuzha, Dr. Aisha
5th Row: Dr. Shaista, Dr. Rabia, Dr. Beenish, Dr. Khadija, Dr. Mahmood Alam Pasha

Introduction of Various Departmental Sections

Leprosy Cell

Leprosy Cell, Mayo Hospital, Lahore is a well established regional centre. This cell was established in 1972. This unit is working in collaboration with an NGO i.e. Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital with a hope to control leprosy. It caters for the patients coming from all over Pakistan particularly Punjab including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal districts and Azad Kashmir. Leprosy is a chronic infectious Mycobacterial disease which particularly affects the skin, nerves and eyes. The disease results in mutilating deformities and disabilities leading to strong social stigma. The centre also offers domiciliary treatment, health education, social rehabilitation and advice regarding eye care to these patients.

The disease is endemic in Pakistan. Although, the overall prevalence rate is below 1 in 1000, the incidence of disease is still over 1 in 10,000. At present, 988 patients are registered here. The total burden of the disease in Pakistan is around 40,000 to 60,000 patients. Of this load, 14% patients belong to Punjab. About 25% of patients present with deformities and disabilities. This high rate is due to the delay in the diagnosis and management of leprosy.

Dermatosurgery

In the present era of rapid technological advances, dermatosurgery has become an essential component of dermatology. Our department has a well-equipped operation theatre where sophisticated procedures like punch grafting for resistant cases of vitiligo, dermabrasion for recalcitrant hyperkeratotic skin disorders, cryotherapy for warts and other conditions and chemical peeling for resistant melasma are carried out. This centre has the potential to act as a nucleus for the dermatologic surgery in the country.

Mycology & Histopathology

The Departmental Laboratory is equipped with facilities for dermatohistopathology and mycology, in addition to basic haematology and biochemistry tests. This laboratory is perhaps the best departmental facility in the country. On an average, about 10,000 tests are performed annually.

Patch Test Clinic

Patch test clinic, also first of its kind countrywide, started functioning in 1994. Patch testing is the only scientific way to confirm the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. It helps in the identification of cause and hence in the management of allergy. So far, almost 1500 patients have been tested while around 10,000 patients have been treated as follow up cases.

Laser Clinic

In 1995, LASER unit was established for the treatment of vascular and pigmentary disorders of skin which were hitherto untreatable.

The use of laser surgery in dermatology is the first of its kind in Pakistan where patients with diseases like freckles, lentigines, pigmented nevi and vascular blemishes are treated. The cost of single laser treatment in UK or US is Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 besides traveling and boarding expenses. Usually, four to six visits are needed at monthly interval.

Photochemotherapy

In the Photochemotherapy unit, ultraviolet A and B lights are used for the treatment of chronic skin disorders like vitiligo, psoriasis and mycosis fungoides (a type of skin malignancy). This facility is, also, the only one of its kind in government sector in Pakistan.

Library, Audio-visual Section, Computer Section, Auditorium

The department has a well-maintained library, audiovisual section, computer section and a well-equipped auditorium with a seating capacity of 60 persons. Through these facilities, the department is actively involved in teaching the undergraduate and post-graduate medical students, nurses and general practitioners.

Prof. Syed Atif Kazmi Examining a patient in the consultant’s OPD

List of Postgraduate Candidates

1. Dr. Ahmed Gardezi FCPS
2. Dr. Asif Rahim FCPS
3. Dr. Ali Raza Syed FCPS
4. Dr. Zaib Ashiq FCPS
5. Dr. Usma Iftikhar FCPS
6. Dr. Zahid FCPS
7. Dr. Ambreen Rauf FCPS
8. Dr. Kehkashan FCPS
9. Dr. Shama FCPS
10. Dr. Rashida FCPS

1. Dr. Khalid Mahmood MD
2. Dr. Ali Raza Syed MD
3. Dr. Maira MD
4. Dr. Rafeeda MD
5. Dr. Samia MD
6. Dr. Shehla Shaukat MD
7. Dr. Asif Rahim MD

1. Dr. Shumaila Waseem MCPS
2. Dr. Fauzia Khalid MCPS
3. Dr. Erum Hayat MCPS
4. Dr. Amina Afzal MCPS
5. Dr. Asim Ghias MCPS
6. Dr. Sumaira Yousaf MCPS
7. Dr. Mahwish Zahoor MCPS
8. Dr. Rabia Alvi MCPS
9. Dr. Samira Fareed MCPS
10. Dr. Fareeha MCPS
11. Dr. Uzma Shamim MCPS
12. Dr. Madiha Sanai MCPS
13. Dr. Zaima MCPS

1. Dr. Tauseef Kamran Dip. Derm
2. Dr. Madiha Sanai Dip. Derm
3. Dr. Ch. Muhammad Ali Dip. Derm
4. Dr. Ahsan Aziz Khawaja Dip. Derm
5. Dr. Arshad Mahmood Dip. Derm

Teaching Programs for Undergraduate MBBS

1. Weekly Lectures (Total 22 Lectures: 45 minutes each)---Final Year MBBS Class
2. Group Discussions in the OPD (3 hours on alternate days for Two weeks)--4th & Final Year MBBS Class
History Taking
Case Presentations (Common Skin Problems)
Demonstrations (Common Skin Problems)
Laboratory Methods
Minor Surgical Procedures
Cautery
Cryotherapy
3. College CPC (Case Presentation & Lectures on Common Skin Diseases) Final Year MBBS Class
Teaching Programs For MD, FCPS And MCPS Students

1. Daily Morning Teaching Rounds in the Ward (8.30 AM – 10.30 AM)
2. OPD on alternate days (Group Teaching in the Consultant’s OPD 11.00 AM – 1.30 PM)
3. Journal Club (Weekly on Wednesday 11.00 AM – 1.00 PM)
4. Group Discussions on Recent Advances in Dermatology (Weekly on Monday 11.00 AM – 1.00 PM)
5. Clinical & Histopathological Slide Sessions (Twice a Month on Friday 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM)
6. Departmental CPC: Lectures & Case Presentations (Weekly on Friday 9.00 AM – 10.30 AM)
7. Morbidity and Mortality Conference (If & when required)
8. Medical Writing & Research Methodology Classes (Twice a Month on Friday 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM)

Teaching Programs for Nurses, Family Physicians, Pharmacists

1. A total of eight classes during one year for Third year nursing class
2. Two lectures to the Dispenser class
3. Pharmacist Training for 2-4 weeks
4. Weekly program of lectures for Family Physicians

Research Projects of the Department in 2007

Research Projects Completed

Eight scientific research projects have been completed under the supervision of Prof. Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi in 2007.

1. Efficacy & safety of low dose methotrexate in patients of chronic eczema
2. To assess the efficacy & safety of topical 1% clotrimazole in cutaneous Leishmaniasis
3. Kashmore: Focus of cutaneous Leishmaniasis
4. A hospital-based clinico-aetiological study of Stevens-Jhonson Syndrome
5. The study of allergic contact dermatitis in children
6. Seroprevalence of HCV in chronic urticaria
7. Comparison of efficacy & safety of Adapalene 0.1% and Benzoyl Peroxide 4% in the treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris
8. To study the local variations in the frequency and pattern of dermatoses in amputees in earthquake affected areas, with recommendations to improve their quality of life

Current Research Work

Twelve new research projects have been started:

1. Etiopathogenesis of Melasma in females in relation to Estrogen and Progesterone
2. Role of different treatment modalities in onychomycosis
3. Cutaneous manifestations in Hepatitis C Virus infection
4. Cutaneous manifestations in Thyroid disease
5. Cutaneous manifestations in Neurological diseases
6. Cutaneous manifestations in Renal disease
7. Cutaneous manifestations in Diabetes Mellitus
8. Therapeutic evaluation of Psoriasis in Pakistan
9. Role of different treatment modalities in Melasma
10. Comparison between efficacy and safety of Synalar Gel (Fluocinolone acetonide) & Minoxin 5% Spray (Minoxidil) in alopecia areata
11. Oral zinc sulphate versus salicylic acid and lactic acid combination in the treatment of warts
12. Role of Finesteride in androgenetic alopecia