Hepatocellular Damage after Using Ecstasy
E. Shiloach, E. Zecler, M. Horowiz, E. Scapa
Depts. of Medicine C and Gastroenterology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin (Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University)
Ecstasy is a stimulant used mainly by youngsters to get 'high.' There are few reports of acute injury of the liver due to ecstasy. We describe a 37-year-old woman who presented with the clinical picture of recurrent hepatitis following ingestion of the drug. After several months she developed liver cirrhosis shown by biopsy and CT scanning. This case emphasizes the potential danger of ecstasy. Every patient with hepatitis of unknown origin must be questioned about ingestion of the drug.