Effects of Therapeutic Dose of Acetaminophen (Paractamol) on Liver Enzymes in Chronic Alcoholics

Abstract

The effects of therapeutic doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol) on liver enzmes in chronic alcoholics were investigated using 4 groups of 20 subjects each. The results showed that the difference in mean serum bilirubin, AST, ALT and ALP values in indivduals taking therapeutic doses of paracetamol only were significantly increased in both chronic alcoholics not taking paracetamol and chronic alcoholics taking therapeutic doses of paracetamol (P<0.05) when compared with the controls. But when the mean values of these liver enzmes in chronic alcoholics not taking paracetamol were compared with the values in chronic alcoholics taking therapeutic doses of paracetamol, there was no significant difference. This showed that alcohol is likely to be responsible for the hepatoxicity and that therapeutic doses of acetaminophen in alcoholics do not enhance toxicity.

Keywords: Paracetamol. Chronic Alcoholics, Liver Enzymes

Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (1) 2005: pp. 23-27