Heroin addiction alters liver function in human subjects

Heroin addiction is a growing problem in our country. Studies were carried out on twenty-eight [28] street heroin injector addicts taking a fixed dose of 1.3 gm of heroin/day for at least eleven years. Blood concentrations of total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubn, Alanine transminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamyl transferase [gGT] were measured using standard methods and results were compared with those of normal human subjects. Total bilirubin, Alanine tranaminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamy transferase [gGT] were significantly elevated in heroin addicts but no significant changes was found in the level of conjugated bilirubin. It is concluded that viral infections leading to hepatitis in intravenous herion addicts results in altered Liver function

Heroin addiction results in altered activities of myocardial enzymes in human subjects

Drug addiction is increasing beyond imagination in our society and in our country the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Drugs commonly used in Pakistan are heroin, morphine, cocaine and cannabis. Studies were carried out on twenty-seven [27] street heroin injection taking a fixed dose of 1.3 gm of heroin par day for at least 11 years. Aspartate transminasc [AST], Lactate dehydrogease [LDH], Creatine Kinase [CK[and isoenzyme of creatine kinase [CK-MB] were estimated and results were compared with those of normal human subjects as control. The activity of LDH, AST and CK were significantly high but no significant change was observed in the level of CK-MB. It is concluded that alteration in the cardiac enzymes during heroin addiction is not only due to cardiac injury but other pathologic resulting from addiction are also rspnsible for the elevation of these enzymes