Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 46, No 4, December, 2005
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478

Contakt:

Goran Ilić
Zavod za sudsku medicinu Kliničkog centra
Bulevar dr Zorana Đinđića 81
18 000 Niš
E-mail: gilke@medfak.ni.ac.yu

cHRONIc INTRAVENOUS HEROIN ABUSE AND HEPATIc AMYLOIDOSIS 

Goran Ilić, Jovan Stojanović, Lidija Kostić-Banović i Radovan Karadžić

Zavod za sudsku medicinu Kliničkog centra u Nišu

A few data on systemic amyloidosis in heroin abusers as well as the development of liver
amyloidosis, as its important target, are the reasons for this examination. The liver amyloidosis
was found in 22,5 % of autopsies and it was very often associated with liver alcoholic
disease. Amyloid deposits were found in the walls of arteries and arterioles, as well as inside
portal and lobular connective tissue frame. The role of macrophage-derived enzymes and cytokines,
together with a genetically determined strucural abnormality in the SAA molecule in the
genesis of systemic amyloidosis, was discussed. Acta Medica Medianae 2005;44(4): 85 – 88.

Key words: heroin abusers, amyloidosis, liver