Relationship between arsenism induced by arsenic-coal burning and liver dysfunction

Objective To explore the relationship between a rsenism induced by a rsenic-coal burning and liver dysfunction in order to provide evidence for early prevention of liver damage.Methods Physical check-up,B-typ eultrasonog raphic and pathological examination of liver were conducted to detect liver dysfunction among the population exposed to coal burning arsenic pollution in endemic area.Results Different symptoms existed among the population.A bnormal rates of B-type ultrasonog raphic examination of liver were 12%,34%,and 64% for subjects with mild,medium,and severe a rsenism(P<0.01).Main pathological change of arsenism patients was liver fibrosis.Glutathione S-transferase(GSTs),hydroxypro line(Hyp)and hyaluronic acid(HA)were significantly higher in all a rsenism groups than that of in the control group(P<0.01).Ttotal bile acid(TBA),γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(γ-GT),procollagen typeⅢ(PCⅢ),and collagen type Ⅳ(ⅣC)were obviously increased in medium and severe arsenism groups than that of in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Detections of GSTs,Hyp and HA are of important reference value for early finding and diagnosis of arsen ic-induced liver cell in jury and fibrosis.B-type ultrasonographic examination of liver and selective laboratory tests have practical significance for diagnosis and treatment of liver dysfunction.