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Elevated Liver Enzyme Levels in Opioid‐Dependent Patients with Hepatitis Treated with Buprenorphine
Author(s) -
Petry Nancy M.,
Bickel Warren K.,
Piasecki Dana,
Marsch Lisa A.,
Badger Gary J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490050148099
Subject(s) - buprenorphine , medicine , odds ratio , liver enzyme , elevated liver enzymes , hepatitis , opioid , enzyme , hepatitis c , gastroenterology , biology , biochemistry , receptor , pregnancy , genetics
The purpose of this study was to assess changes in liver enzyme levels among opioid‐dependent patients treated with buprenorphine. Liver enzyme levels were evaluated among 120 individuals before treatment and following a minimum of 40 days of buprenorphine treatment (2, 4, or 8 mg/70 kg/day) . Among patients with a history of hepatitis, AST and ALT levels significantly increased (p < .05) with buprenorphine treatment. The odds of observing an increase in AST were determined to be dependent upon buprenorphine dose (p < .05; odds ratio = 1.23 per 1 mg increase in dose) . These results suggest that liver enzyme levels should be monitored carefully when patients with hepatitis are treated with buprenorphine.