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Scholars Journal of Medical Case Reports | Volume-3 | Issue-01
Cocaine-induced Hepatotoxicity: A Case Report
Ioannis Papayannis, Pruthvi Patel
Published: Jan. 30, 2015 |
103
86
DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2015.v03i01.012
Pages: 33-35
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Abstract
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It has a small number of
legitimate medical applications. Historically, it was useful as a topical anesthetic in eye and nasal surgery, although it is
now predominantly used for nasal and lacrimal duct surgery. From numerous studies it is known that it causes
irreversible structural changes on the brain, heart and other organs such as lungs and kidneys. Cocaine-induced acute
liver injury has been described in animal models, although few cases have been reported in humans. Most of the direct
hepatotoxic effects are mediated by oxidative stress and by mitochondrial dysfunction produced during the metabolism
of noradrenaline or during the metabolism of norcocaina. We describe here the case of a 33-year-old man who developed
acute liver injury after cocaine use. He presented to the emergency room with worsening abdominal pain and fatigue
requiring hospitalization. Confounding liver insults included a history of untreated chronic hepatitis C and heavy alcohol
use.