Prof. MD. Aylin Canbolat Ayhan

A 3-year-old refugee child from Syria, recently resettled in Istanbul with his single mother, arrived with severe hepatomegaly and failure to thrive. Dr. Ayhan diagnosed Wilson's disease, unusual at such a young age. The challenge involved managing copper chelation therapy while navigating language barriers and the family's precarious living situation. Dr. Ayhan secured charitable funding for medication and arranged community health worker support. After 18 months, the child showed remarkable improvement, catching up on developmental milestones.

An 11-year-old girl from a remote Black Sea village presented with recurrent pruritus and dark urine. Local doctors had misdiagnosed it as allergies. Dr. Ayhan identified progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 through genetic testing. She initiated a novel combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and rifampicin, while arranging for the family's temporary housing near the hospital. The treatment stabilized liver function, delaying transplant necessity by several years, a significant victory given the organ shortage for children.

A 7-year-old boy, son of a Turkish diplomat recently returned from Southeast Asia, developed acute liver failure with encephalopathy. Dr. Ayhan suspected aflatoxin poisoning from contaminated peanuts, confirmed through toxicology screening. She managed the crisis with molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) therapy, a first for her department in a pediatric case. The boy made a full recovery after three weeks of intensive care, with Dr. Ayhan implementing dietary education for the entire diplomatic community.

A 16-year-old aspiring musician from an affluent family presented with mildly elevated liver enzymes during a routine check-up. Dr. Ayhan discovered non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) linked to a high-fructose diet from energy drinks consumed during marathon practice sessions. Instead of medication, she prescribed a tailored Mediterranean diet and collaborated with a music therapist to address performance anxiety. Within six months, liver enzymes normalized through lifestyle changes alone.

A 14-year-old competitive gymnast from a middle-class family presented with unexplained fatigue and jaundice. Dr. Ayhan discovered a rare autoimmune hepatitis triggered by intense physical stress. The treatment involved a carefully calibrated steroid regimen alongside nutritional counseling to support bone health during growth spurts. The patient's recovery required 8 months of gradual reintroduction to training, with Dr. Ayhan coordinating closely with the sports medicine team to prevent relapse.