The ease of availability and potential tendency to abuse tramadol hydrochloride prompted this research. Making use of biochemical and histological techniques, concentrations of marker enzymes were monitored along with alterations in the liver architecture of wistar albino rats in graded doses of tramadol hydrochloride for 28 days. Specifically, levels of gammaglutamyltransferase (-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Statistical evaluation of the results at a p < 0.05 elucidated significantly elevated values of these enzymes when compared with controls that were not on tramadol hydrochloride. The variations were time and dose dependent. Histological evaluation presented various degrees of inflammatory cells of the liver, cytolysis in hepatocytes and some portal tract hypertrophy. These findings support the need for caution in administration of tramadol particularly for long term administration.
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-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Statistical evaluation of the results at a p < 0.05 elucidated significantly elevated values of these enzymes when compared with controls that were not on tramadol hydrochloride. The variations were time and dose dependent. Histological evaluation presented various degrees of inflammatory cells of the liver, cytolysis in hepatocytes and some portal tract hypertrophy. These findings support the need for caution in administration of tramadol particularly for long term administration.
