Liver disease in the drug-using adolescent

Iris F. Litt, Michael I. Cohen, S. Kenneth Schonberg, Ilya Spigland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evaluation of 7,272 presumably well adolescent users of heroin, sedatives and airplane glue revealed abnormalities in liver function in 37 per cent. Elevation of the concentration of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase was the most common abnormality, while elevation of serum bilirubin levels was recorded in less than 10 per cent. These abnormalities were prevalent in the patients who used heroin and sedatives. Inhalation of airplane glue was not associated with abnormalities in liver function tests. The substances commontly abused by our patients did not appear toxic when tested in an in vitro system designed to evaluate acute hepatotoxicity. The long-term prognosis of chronic persistent hepatitis in teen-agers who abuse drugs is still unknown.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)238-242
Number of pages5
JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics
Volume81
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1972

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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