[Morphological features of chronic viral hepatitis C in drug abusers].

The morphological features of chronic viral hepatitis C were studied on specimens from 33 autopsy cases of heroinomania. A comparison group was presented with liver biopsy specimens taken in 17 cases corresponding to those of the study drug non-abusers diagnosed as having chronic viral hepatitis C. Chronic viral hepatitis C in drug abusers as compared to drug non-abusers was characterized by more pronounced hepatocytic dystrophic changes, less significant inflammatory infiltration of the portal tracts, a higher incidence of cholestasis with reactive changes in the epithelium of the biliary tract, fibrosis of the central venous walls.

[Prevalence and postmortem diagnosis of hemocontact infections in intravenous drug abusers based on forensic medical research data].

The spread of viral hepatitis C and B and of HIV was studied among the intravenous drug consumers (IDC) on the basis of 42 forensic-medical autopsies. The enzyme immune-assay (EIA) of blood serum showed, in 95.2% of cases, antibodies to hepatitis C virus, antibodies to HbsAg and HIV were registered in 11.

[Morphology of immune system organs in drug addiction].

The autopsy material from the thymus, spleen and bifurcation tracheal lymph nodes from 34 drug addicts who died because of heroin overdosing were studied. Morphin and heroin components were found in all tissues and fluids investigated. The enzyme immunoassay identified antibodies to hepatitis C virus in blood serum.

[Opiate poisoning (an analysis of section material)].

Section specimens from subjects dead from narcotic poisoning in 1998-1999 are analyzed. The results indicate that narcotic poisonings were primarily due to opiates or their combinations with other drugs (primarily ethanol). The ratio of male to female mortality was 3:1.