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A study of hepatobiliary function in chronic heroin smokers
Author(s) -
BANERJEE DHRITI,
SARKAR NIRMAL KUMAR
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1080/1355621961000124826
Subject(s) - heroin , albumin , medicine , bilirubin , globulin , addiction , endocrinology , gastroenterology , secretion , immunology , drug , pharmacology , psychiatry
The controversy over the relationship between heroin addiction and hepatocellular dysfunction was examined by assay of serum activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, total protein, albumin and globulin in 48 chronic heroin smokers and 33 controls. Biliary secretion in the addicts was compared to controls by assay of serum bilirubin and its conjugated and unconjugated fractions. Serum aminotransferases, total protein, albumin and globulin did not differ significantly between the addict and the control groups ( p < 0.05), whereas total bilirubin and its conjugated fraction were significantly higher in the addicts ( p < 0.02). The results indicate that chronic abuse of heroin by smoking affects biliary secretion but exercises little influence over hepatocellular function.