title: Elevated liver enzyme levels in opioid-dependent patients with hepatitis treated with buprenorphine.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess changes in liver enzyme levels among opioid-dependent patients treated with buprenorphine. Liver enzyme levels were evaluated among 120 individuals before treatment and following a minimum of 40 days of buprenorphine treatment (2, 4, or 8 mg/70 kg/day). Among patients with a history of hepatitis, AST and ALT levels significantly increased (p < .05) with buprenorphine treatment. The odds of observing an increase in AST were determined to be dependent upon buprenorphine dose (p < .05; odds ratio = 1.23 per 1 mg increase in dose). These results suggest that liver enzyme levels should be monitored carefully when patients with hepatitis are treated with buprenorphine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030-1517, USA. petry@psychiatry.uchc.edu
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piasecki
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marsch
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Badger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D000637:Transaminases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine; D000637:Transaminases