Influence of opiate addiction on liver cell damage of patients with viral hepatitis C.

Abstract

Liver functional tests, cholestasis development and serum acute phase proteins, including a-1-proteinase inhibitor (PI) and albumin level (negative reactant of acute phase proteins), C-reactive protein (CRP) have been studied in the patients with viral hepatitis C (HCV) and/or drug addictive disorders (crude home-made opiates). Narcotic drugs were shown to be responsible for aggravation of cholestasis development in HCV patients with opiate addiction. Decreased albumin concentration in serum was registered in all groups with drug addictive disorders, as a result of modified acute phase reaction.