Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Analyses of 23 fatal instances of hepatic injury in patients taking valproic acid reveals that all but three were less than 20 years old, and all but four had been taking the drugs for more than 1 month. Convulsions, facial edema, lassitude, and vomiting were prominent clinical features. Hypoglycemia was recorded in six patients. Rash and eosinophilia were not seen. Values for transaminases were modestly elevated in most patients. Most levels of SGOT were below 500 IU, and SGPT levels were below 200 IU. Livers showed microvesicular steatosis in most patients, usually accompanies by necrosis. Four patients had cirrhosis. Overt valproic acid-induced hepatic injury appears to be rare and hence, by definition, idiosyncratic. That it may be an idiosyncratic exaggeration of a much more frequent phenomenon is suggested by the higher incidence of seemingly trivial injury. The idiosyncrasy appears to be metabolic rather than immunologic, and the available information leads to the plausible hypothesis that a metabolite is responsible for the microvesicular steatosis seen in most fatal cases. The steatosis resembles that of Reye's syndrome and Jamaican vomiting sickness, and there is reason to believe that the metabolite responsible for the steatosis resembles the agent responsible for Jamaican vomiting sickness. A different metabolite is presumably responsible for the necrosis seen in many of the cases.
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PMID:Valproate-induced hepatic injury: analyses of 23 fatal cases. 681 94

This article reviews the disease process hemochromatosis, which is now recognized as one of the most common genetic disorders. Hemochromatosis is transmitted as autosomal recessive, and occurs in 3% of persons of Anglo-Saxon descent. It is caused by an inappropriate increase in intestinal iron absorption resulting in deposition of excess iron in tissues. Hemochromatosis usually presents in males in their 40s, and females much later. The most frequent initial symptoms are weakness, lassitude, weight loss, and symptoms related to the onset of diabetes mellitus. The classical triad of cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and skin pigmentation occurs late in the disease. There is debate over the value of mass screening for the disorder; however, it is recommended that once a case has been identified family members at risk should be screened. Therapy is directed at removing excess iron by phlebotomy. By instituting early therapy, many of the long-term complications, including cirrhosis and hepatoma, can be prevented. It is imperative that physicians learn to recognize early signs and symptoms of hemochromatosis so that treated patients can expect a normal life span with minimal medical intervention.
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PMID:Recognizing genetic hemochromatosis. 784 64