title: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): an important cause of acute hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MDMA, i.e. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("Ecstasy"), occasionally produces significant hepatotoxicity in humans. It is characterized by a wide range of variability in clinical expression, ranging from asymptomatic liver injury, as observed by altered liver function tests, to acute hepatic failure. Prognostic factors that may predict the outcome of this condition remain unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 19-year-old male who presented deeplyjaundiced two weeks after ingestion of two tablets of Ecstasy. The clinical picture, laboratory data, and morphological studies were consistent with acute hepatitis. There was no evidence for a viral, alcoholic, metabolic, or autoimmune etiology of the disease. A mild clinical course with complete recovery after two months was observed. The presence of All molecule was confirmed in the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The possible association of specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotypes and MDMA-induced hepatotoxicity needs future evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Rijeka, Croatia. nada.brncic@medri.hr
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brncić
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Visković
authors.forename: Brankica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mijandrusić-Sincić
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vlahović-Palcevski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D006213:Hallucinogens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D001663:Bilirubin