Serum Dioxin and Hepatic Abnormalities in Veterans of Operation Ranch Hand

PURPOSE: We studied hepatic abnormalities and indices of hepatic function in relation to exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin) in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the Air Force unit responsible for the aerial spraying of herbicides in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971. METHODS: The preva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of epidemiology 2001-07, Vol.11 (5), p.304-311
Main Authors: Michalek, Joel E, Ketchum, Norma S, Longnecker, Matthew P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - adverse effects
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - adverse effects
Aerospace Medicine
Agent Orange
Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
Defoliants, Chemical - adverse effects
Defoliants, Chemical - blood
Dioxin
gamma-Glutamyltransferase - blood
Hepatic Abnormality
Hepatomegaly - chemically induced
Hepatomegaly - epidemiology
Humans
Liver Diseases - epidemiology
Liver Function Tests
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - adverse effects
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - blood
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Regression Analysis
Risk
United States - epidemiology
Veterans - statistics & numerical data
Vietnam
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Summary:PURPOSE: We studied hepatic abnormalities and indices of hepatic function in relation to exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin) in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the Air Force unit responsible for the aerial spraying of herbicides in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971. METHODS: The prevalence of ever having liver disease through March 1993, and level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were examined according to serum dioxin levels. RESULTS: We found an increased risk of “other liver disorders” among veterans with the highest dioxin levels [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2 to 2.1], due primarily to increased transaminases or LDH (adjusted OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 5.1) and to other nonspecific liver abnormalities (adjusted OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Whether the associations observed were causal is unclear from these data.
ISSN:1047-2797
1873-2585
DOI:10.1016/S1047-2797(00)00218-0