Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Turkey, Istanbul
Dr. Zulfikar Polat is a professor of gastroenterology at Istanbul Aydın University. He previously practiced at Anadolu Medical Center, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Polat focuses on hepato-pancreatology and inflammatory intestinal diseases. He serves as an expert in both diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures.
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Doğan is a gastroenterologist. He earned his MD from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1991. He became an Internal Medicine specialist at Gazi University in 1996. He completed gastroenterology subspecialty training at İnönü University in 2001.
His academic career was at Gazi University. He served as Lecturer (2002), Assistant Professor (2003), Associate Professor (2007), and Professor (2012). He worked as a researcher at the University of California San Diego from 2004 to 2006. He has practiced at Koru Hospital since January 2023.
Clinical focus includes gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gastroparesis, achalasia, bloating, gas and belching, fecal incontinence, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. He performs ERCP, stent placement, balloon and bougie dilation, polypectomy, argon plasma coagulation, double-balloon enteroscopy, and bleeding control.
Prof. Dr. Musa Aydınlı is an internal medicine specialist and gastroenterologist. He completed his MD at Hacettepe University in 1997. He finished internal medicine training in 2003 and gastroenterology training in 2007 at the same institution. He worked at Kayseri Training and Research Hospital from 2007 to 2009. He served in the Gastroenterology Department at Gaziantep University from 2009 to 2014. He became an associate professor in 2012 and a professor in 2020. He joined Gülhane Training and Research Hospital in 2022. He now practices at Private Koru Ankara Hospital.
Clinical focus: GERD; dyspepsia, gastritis, and Helicobacter pylori; peptic ulcer disease; celiac disease; IBS and IBD (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease); colon polyps; colorectal and upper GI cancers; liver disease (fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, portal hypertension); hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders and cancers. Procedures: EGD, rectosigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy; biopsy, polypectomy, and endoscopic mucosal resection; hemostasis and APC; dilation and stent placement; PEG; ERCP; EUS-guided biopsy.
Turkish specialists treat Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis using international protocols to suppress liver inflammation. Treatment involves a remission phase with corticosteroids and a maintenance phase using azathioprine. Leading hepatologists in Istanbul and Ankara manage these cases. They aim to prevent liver scarring and maintain long-term remission.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterology professors often hold memberships in both major liver associations. These are the American (AASLD) and the European (EASL). This dual alignment means patients receive care that meets global standards. Prof. Dr Zulfikar Polat is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine through Anadolu Medical Center. This shows the high level of international academic integration.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that liver biopsy is a necessary step for diagnosis in Turkey. They often discuss managing early side effects from steroids. They also discuss adjusting to long-term maintenance therapy.
Treatment for Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis in Turkey typically requires 18 to 36 months of medication. Doctors consider tapering only after this period. Initial remission usually takes 3 to 6 months. Most patients need lifelong maintenance therapy to prevent relapses. These relapses occur in up to 75% of cases after stopping drugs.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Leading Turkish gastroenterologists include Prof. Dr Zulfikar Polat and Prof. Dr Musa Aydınlı. They are members of global bodies such as EASL and AASLD. So patients receive the same international protocols used in Australia. These specialists often work in JCI-accredited hubs. One example is Anadolu Medical Center, which is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that liver enzymes may take months to stabilise. They suggest planning for long-term medication like azathioprine. They also recommend coordinating follow-up blood tests with a GP after returning to Australia.
To diagnose Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis, Turkish clinics perform blood panels, autoantibody profiling, and imaging. Specialists use liver biopsies as the gold standard to confirm inflammation levels. International standards guide these evaluations to exclude viral hepatitis, fatty liver, or bile duct diseases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Leading hepatologists integrate AASLD and EASL protocols. One example is Prof. Dr Zulfikar Polat at Anadolu Medical Center. Data shows Turkish centres prioritise ruling out look-alike conditions. They often add AMA and pANCA tests early. This prevents misdiagnosis in complex autoimmune overlap cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that doctors systematically rule out viral hepatitis and fatty liver before the biopsy. They suggest expecting repeat blood tests even if recent results from home are provided.
Turkish hepatologists manage refractory Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis by switching to second-line immunosuppressants. These include Mycophenolate Mofetil or Tacrolimus. Specialists verify the diagnosis through repeat biopsies and expert review. Additional therapies include biologic agents or liver transplantation for cases progressing to hepatic failure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterology professors often hold dual memberships in the American (AASLD) and European (EASL) liver associations. This means treatment protocols for refractory cases mirror the highest global standards. Specialists like Dr Zulfikar Polat at Anadolu Medical Center bring experience from institutions affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine. This is vital when navigating the trial-and-error nature of third-line immunosuppression.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that managing resistant hepatitis in Turkey often involves a series of medication trials before finding a stable regimen. Many emphasise confirming that the clinic has a dedicated hepatologist. This specialist can manage long-term immunosuppression and potential biopsy repeats.
International patients choose Turkey for Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis management. This is because they get immediate access to JCI-accredited facilities and specialist hepatologists. Turkish private hospitals offer comprehensive diagnostic panels and liver biopsy services. These services come without the long waiting periods common in Australian public healthcare systems.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Istanbul is the primary medical hub. However, Ankara provides significant expertise for complex autoimmune cases. Professors Ibrahim Dogan and Musa Aydinli work at Private Koru Ankara Hospital. They bring experience from the University of California San Diego and Gülhane Training and Research Hospital. Choosing Ankara often provides access to academic-level specialists. They have extensive experience in interventional endoscopy and chronic liver management.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that clear communication and a detailed treatment plan are more important. They matter more than price alone. Those travelling to Turkey feel secure when hospitals provide dedicated international departments. These departments treat them as individuals rather than numbers.