Liver disease in the drug-using adolescent

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.