Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Dr. Zulfikar Polat is a gastroenterology and internal medicine specialist. He trained at Ankara Gülhane Military Medical Academy, where he completed his specialty and became an Associate Professor. He is a Professor at İstanbul Aydın University. His postgraduate experience includes Ankara Gülhane Military Medical Academy and İstanbul Aydın University. He also worked at Anadolu Medical Center, affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine (USA).
Clinical focus includes gastroenterology, hepato-pancreatology, inflammatory intestinal diseases, and diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures. Professional memberships include the Turkish Gastroenterology Association (TGD), Turkish Endoscopy Society, TÜRK EUS, ESGE, EASL, and AASLD. He has 45 national and international publications.
Dr. Suleyman Guray is a gastroenterology specialist at Memorial Göztepe Hospital in Istanbul (2025–present). He previously worked at Medicana Izmir International Hospital (2025) and Izmir Katip Çelebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital (2018–2025).
He earned his MD from Ege University (1996–2002). He completed his specialization in Internal Medicine at Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital (2004–2009). He is a member of the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology and the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society.
His advanced endoscopy training includes CHA Bundang Medical Center. He also attended the Manchester Advanced Endoscopy Symposium and the International Congress of Gastroenterology Research, Endoscopy, and Training Society.
The standard medical protocol in Turkey for Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis follows international EASL guidelines. Treatment involves initial immunosuppression with corticosteroids like prednisolone to reduce liver inflammation. Doctors then add maintenance medications such as azathioprine to maintain biochemical remission and prevent long-term liver fibrosis.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterologists like Dr. Zulfikar Polat at Anadolu Medical Center hold memberships in EASL and AASLD. This ensures patients receive protocols identical to top US and European hospitals. Our data shows choosing clinics affiliated with global institutions often provides better access to newer diagnostic liver imaging.
Patient Consensus: Patients highlight that managing steroid side effects like insomnia is crucial during early treatment. They also emphasize that staying on maintenance therapy is vital to avoid sudden liver relapses.
Turkish hepatology centers perform liver biopsies safely using ultrasound-guided techniques. A biopsy is often necessary for Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis to confirm diagnosis and assess fibrosis. Specialists like Dr. Zulfikar Polat at Anadolu Medical Center utilize these samples to guide immunosuppression therapy precisely.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many patients focus on the procedure itself, the real value in Turkey lies in institutional affiliations. For example, Anadolu Medical Center works in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine. This ensures biopsy results are interpreted by pathology teams trained in global diagnostic standards, which is vital for autoimmune staging.
Patient Consensus: Patients note the procedure is much faster and less painful than expected, often feeling only brief pressure. They emphasize choosing a large hospital over a small clinic to ensure access to emergency care if needed.
Turkish hepatology teams demonstrate high experience, achieving a 99% survival rate for Autoimmune Hepatitis management in specialized cohorts. Centers maintain over 40 JCI-accredited facilities. Expert teams like those at Anadolu Medical Center utilize international protocols from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patient data suggests that the most successful outcomes for rare autoimmune conditions occur at JCI-accredited academic centers in Istanbul. For example, Anadolu Medical Center works in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine. These high-volume centers provide direct access to transplant-level expertise that smaller regional clinics cannot match.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that experienced teams are essential for managing difficult steroid tapers and monitoring azathioprine tolerance. They emphasize that seeking care at large hospitals ensures better coordination for complex issues like overlap syndrome.