CHRONIC INTRAVENOUS HEROIN ABUSE AND HEPATIC AMYLOIDOSIS

A few data on systemic amyloidosis in heroin abusers as well as the development of liver amyloidosis, as its important target, are the reasons for this examination. The liver amyloidosis was found in 22,5 % of autopsies and it was very often associated with liver alcoholicdisease. Amyloid deposits were found in the walls of arteries and arterioles, as well as inside portal and lobular connective tissue frame. The role of macrophage-derived enzymes and cytokines,together with a genetically determined strucural abnormality in the SAA molecule in the genesis of systemic amyloidosis, was discussed.