Lethal enhancement of therapeutic doses of acetaminophen by alcohol.
A 47-year-old man undergoing supervised alcohol detoxification developed severe liver disease after receiving small doses of acetaminophen. Autopsy revealed extensive hepatic necrosis. Proposed mechanisms for alcohol potentiation of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity are described. We feel acetaminophen should not be routinely used for patients with active alcoholism unless its safety can be established.
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001344:Autopsy; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol