title: [Hepatitis after chewing of khat leaves].
abstract: Chewing of leaves from the Catha edulis (khat) plant has amphetamine-like, stimulating effects and is used in rituals among East African men. In recent years, a possible liver-toxic effect has been observed in Somali immigrants in Western countries and has in severe cases led to death or liver transplantation. It is discussed whether the liver insufficiency represents a severe ethnic variant of autoimmune hepatitis, or a khat-induced hepatitis with autoimmune features. We describe six patients with Somalian background and possibly khat-induced toxic hepatitis.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teisen
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vainer
authors.affiliation: henriette.ytting@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ytting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D029754:Catha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult