Liver function tests in nonparenteral cocaine users

Article Abstract:

Approximately 22 million Americans have used cocaine, and five million are regular users. Cocaine is known to have a number of toxic effects, such as seizures and heart problems. Recent reports of liver damage in cocaine users have prompted animal research which shows cocaine to have toxic effects on the liver. A group of 71 hospitalized cocaine and crack users were studied to assess liver damage that could be attributed to their cocaine use. Eleven of these patients were found to have slight elevations in the blood level of one liver enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, and seven were found to have minimal elevations in another liver enzyme, alanine aminotransferase. Two others had slight elevations in the liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase. Because none of the enzyme elevations was high, no liver biopsies or studies to look for viral hepatitis - common in drug abusers - were done. None of the patients with abnormalities in their blood tests had any clinical signs of liver disease. Drug abusers have multiple reasons to have liver function abnormalities, such as viral diseases, other infections, malnutrition, and other liver-toxic drug ingestion. Thus, the significance of the small liver function abnormalities seen in this study in relation to the patients' cocaine use is unknown. Further studies are warranted to assess the degree of damage to the liver cocaine might cause. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Causes of, Physiological aspects, Liver diseases, Drug abuse, Cocaine, Liver function tests

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Caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant: a double-blind study comparing aspirin with caffeine to aspirin and placebo in patients with sore throat

Article Abstract:

Over-the-counter drugs containing aspirin and caffeine are widely available and used, but few studies have examined whether this combination is effective in relieving pain. A total of 210 patients who came to their family physician's office with sore throats were randomly assigned to receive either aspirin with caffeine, aspirin alone, or placebo (inert pills). They remained in the office for two hours, and were asked to rate their pain and the degree and rapidity of relief they had experienced at the end of that time. Both aspirin alone and aspirin with caffeine were significantly better than placebo at relieving pain, decreasing swelling, and easing difficulty with swallowing, and aspirin with caffeine was better than plain aspirin at easing those symptoms. In addition, the aspirin with caffeine combination began acting 15 minutes after it was taken, and it retained its greater efficacy over plain aspirin at 30, 90, and 120 minutes. The mechanism whereby the caffeine improves the effect of the aspirin is not known, but it is theorized that the caffeine increases the release of stomach acid, which enables the aspirin to be absorbed more rapidly. Thus, aspirin with caffeine appears to be more effective at relieving sore throat pain than aspirin alone. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Drug therapy, Caffeine, Aspirin, Pharyngitis, Sore throat

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