Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2010

Mentor: Don Rockey, M.D.
Department: Medicine
Room number: K5.140D
Mail Code: 8887
Phone number: (214) 645-6344
E-mail: don.rockey@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Tests

Human subjects IRB approved project number: 062008-051

Animal subjects IRB approved project number: N/A

Project Type: Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:

The purpose of this project is to study the evaluation of abnormal liver tests in patients seen in the ER and/or admitted to the hospital. This includes determination of how many patients with abnormal liver enzyme elevations are referred for additional assessment and what factors can be used to predict whether they will be appropriately evaluated.

This study will be a prospective evaluation of abnormal liver tests in all patients admitted to the ER. This will be a chart review study with no direct patient contact. We will collect data on the factors that determine whether an abnormal result is followed up with further evaluation in liver disease diagnosis. As a part of achieving this goal, we will also prospectively survey residents, asking them to predict the cause of liver abnormalities in those patients with elevated enzyme levels.

A survey tool has been validated and the study has received IRB approval.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

1. Seeto R, Rockey DC. Pyogenic liver abscess: Changes in etiology, management and outcome. Medicine 75:99-113, 1996.

2. Seeto R, Rockey DC. Amebic liver abscess: Epidemiology, clinical features and outcome. Western Journal of Medicine 170:104-109, 1999.

3. Seeto R, Fenn B, Rockey DC. Ischemic hepatitis: Clinical presentation and pathogenesis. The American Journal of Medicine 109:109-113, 2000.

4. Ihab EH, Sharara AI, Rockey DC. Subfulminant liver failure associated with quetiapine. Eur Journal of Gastroenterology Hepatology 16:1415-1418, 2004.

5. Scales C, Fein S, Muir A, Rockey DC. Clinical utilization of digital rectal examination and fecal occult blood testing upon hospital admission. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 40:913-918, 2006.