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Acta Medica Medianae
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HEPATIC SINUSOIDAL MACROPHAGES (KUPFER'S AND ENDOTHELIAL CELLS) IN THE HEROIN ADDICTS
Goran ILIĆ and Jovan STOJANOVIĆ
Institute for Judicial Medicine, Niš
The histological, histo-chemical and ultrastructural examinations of the liver have been done in order to have a precise view of the liver damages induced by the heroin abuse. The change in the number of the hepatic sinusoidal macrophages (Kupfer's and endothelial cells) has been determined with respect to the present liver tissue damages. The study has comprised an analysis of 50 autopsies, while 40 of them were from the group of the intravenous heroin addicts and 10 autopsies represented a control group. The number of the Kupfer's and endothelial cells has been significantly greater in the autopsy cases of the intravenous heroin addicts with the chronic active hepatitis regerdless of whether there was any posthepatic cirrhosis at the same time or not. In the intravenous heroin addict autopsies where together with other morphological changes there were also alcohol obese changes there was not any significant difference in the number of the Kupfer's and endothelial cells with respect to the control group liver which is most probably a consequence of the alcohol immunosuppressive effect.
Key words: Intravenous Heroin Addict, Hepatic Sinusoidal Macrophages |