Evaluation of drug dependent persons’ health on the basis of routine laboratory test results

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of reference value deviations in blood chemistry in patients treated for substance abuse and to demonstrate the relationship between the type of dependence and abnormalities in biochemistry studies. Material and methodThe study involved 93 subjects hospitalised in the brief dependence and codependence therapy department. Patients were divided into three groups: alcohol, opiate and amphetamine dependent. The study was conducted in the first two weeks of stay and concerned demographic data and blood chemistry results. ResultsOver 40% of all subjects had a higher than normal GTP activity, more than 20% higher than normal levels of cholesterol and ALT, and more than 16% higher AST. Persons addicted to amphetamine were shown to have the highest level of LDL, while the lowest was in those addicted to alcohol. The highest average GTP, AST, ALT liver injury markers occurred in alcohol and opiate dependent persons and the lowest in amphetamine addicts. DiscussionThis study confirmed the results of other studies that persons addicted to amphetamine had better biochemical parameters of liver functioning than opiate or alcohol addicts. ConclusionThe most commonly assessed biochemical changes of reference values observed above concerned total cholesterol, AST, ALT, GTP. Alcohol or opiate dependent persons had more often increased activity of GTP, AST and ALT than those addicted to amphetamine.