Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity in Alcoholics
Authors: ALAN H. HALL
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1986)

Letters and Corrections1 October 1986Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity in AlcoholicsALAN H. HALL, M.D., KENNETH W. KULIG, M.D., BARRY H. RUMACK, M.D.ALAN H. HALL, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, KENNETH W. KULIG, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, BARRY H. RUMACK, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-105-4-624_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Seeff and colleagues (1) presented the cases of 6 patients and reviewed those of 19 others reported in the literature describing the possible development of hepatotoxicity in alcoholics with "therapeutic or near-therapeutic doses" of acetaminophen. In the 6 patients, no acetaminophen plasma levels were reported, even though the authors concluded that jaundice in an alcoholic patient with a history of acetaminophen ingestion "should prompt measurement of the blood level of acetaminophen." Thus, we must depend completely on the patients' histories to infer the actual amount of acetaminophen ingested. Other than assessment for hepatitis B, the authors did...References1. SEEFFCUCCHERINIZIMMERMANADLERBENJAMIN LBHES. Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in alcoholics: a therapeutic misadventure. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:399-404. LinkGoogle Scholar2. LINDENRUMACK CB. Acetaminophen overdose. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1984;2:103-19. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. RUMACKPETERSONKOCHAMARA BRGI. Acetaminophen overdose: 662 cases with evaluation of oral acetylcysteine treatment. Arch Intern Med. 1981;141:380-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BENSON G. Acetaminophen in chronic liver disease. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1983;33:95-101. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. SEEFFCUCCHERINIZIMMERMANADLERBENJAMIN LBHES. Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in alcoholics: a therapeutic misadventure. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:399-404. LinkGoogle Scholar2. PRESCOTTCRITCHLEY LJ. Drug interactions affecting analgesic toxicity. Am J Med. 1983;75:113-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. PRESCOTTCRITCHLEYBALALI-MOODPENTLAND LJMB. Effects of microsomal enzyme induction on paracetamol metabolism in man. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;12:149-53. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MINERSATTWOODBIRKETT JJD. Determinants of acetaminophen metabolism: effect of inducers and inhibitors of drug metabolism on acetaminophen's metabolic pathways. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1984;35:480-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. JAYASINGHEROBERTSREAD KCA. Is biliary excretion of paracetamol significant in man? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1986. (In press). CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center Denver, CO 80204-4507 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByParacetamol (acetaminophen) and combinationsDrug MetabolismThe effect of therapeutic doses of paracetamol on liver function in the rat perfused liverSALICYLATES, PARACETAMOL, AND OTHER NON-OPIOID ANALGESICSParacetamolDrug MetabolismAnti-inflammatory and antipyretic analgesics and drugs used in goutA review of the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol at therapeutic or near-therapeutic dose levels, with particular reference to alcohol abusersMechanisms of the Formation and Disposition of Reactive Metabolites That can Cause Acute Liver InjuryAcetaminophen 1 October 1986Volume 105, Issue 4Page: 624-625KeywordsAlcoholicsBlood plasmaHepatitis BIngestion Issue Published: 1 October 1986 PDF DownloadLoading ...