Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Isfahan Medical School 1027-7595 29 139 2011 06 22 Abnormal Liver Enzymes in Coal Tar Refinery Workers of Isfahan Abnormal Liver Enzymes in Coal Tar Refinery Workers of Isfahan 606 514 13433 FA Hamid Tavakkoli Associate Professor of Medicine Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Alzahra University Hospital Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Zahra Ghaem-Maghami Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine And Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Mohammad Hassan Emami Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 0000-0001-5868-0182 Peyman Adibi Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Hamid Galedari General Practitioner, Occupational Medicine Unit, Isfahan Steel Company, Isfahan, Iran. Mahshid Haghighi Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Ali Gholamrezaei Research Assistant, Poursina Hakim Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran. Journal Article 2011 02 08 Background: The effects of occupational exposure on liver function in oil refinery workers are not well known. In this study we evaluated the liver enzyme abnormalities among coal tar refinery workers.Methods: The oil refinery workers in central part of Iran (Isfahan city) underwent routine annual medical examination from 2006 to 2007. A total of 66 cases with abnormal levels of aminotransferases were included in this cross-sectional study. Liver diseases including viral, metabolic and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded by detailed investigations. The relationships of different findings and liver enzymes were evaluated through inferential statistics.Finding: All patients were male with the mean age of 36.7 ± 4.8 years. Thirty eight subjects had dyslipidemia (61.3%). There were significant correlations between triglyceride or cholesterol concentrations and aminotransferases levels. From 40 cases, 35 cases (87.5%) demonstrated ultrasonographic fatty livers. Also, significant correlations were found between cholesterol and Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels. There were not significant differences in levels of aminotransferases among different type of work (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Direct occupational exposure to oil refinery products may play an important role in liver enzyme abnormalities. Exposure to coal tar components such as phenols, poly aromatic hydrocarbons chemicals may be a risk factor for NASH (Non-alcoholic Steato-hepatitis). Liver biopsy and long term follow-up can be helpful for definite diagnosis and determination of prognosis.     Background: The effects of occupational exposure on liver function in oil refinery workers are not well known. In this study we evaluated the liver enzyme abnormalities among coal tar refinery workers.Methods: The oil refinery workers in central part of Iran (Isfahan city) underwent routine annual medical examination from 2006 to 2007. A total of 66 cases with abnormal levels of aminotransferases were included in this cross-sectional study. Liver diseases including viral, metabolic and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded by detailed investigations. The relationships of different findings and liver enzymes were evaluated through inferential statistics.Finding: All patients were male with the mean age of 36.7 ± 4.8 years. Thirty eight subjects had dyslipidemia (61.3%). There were significant correlations between triglyceride or cholesterol concentrations and aminotransferases levels. From 40 cases, 35 cases (87.5%) demonstrated ultrasonographic fatty livers. Also, significant correlations were found between cholesterol and Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels. There were not significant differences in levels of aminotransferases among different type of work (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Direct occupational exposure to oil refinery products may play an important role in liver enzyme abnormalities. Exposure to coal tar components such as phenols, poly aromatic hydrocarbons chemicals may be a risk factor for NASH (Non-alcoholic Steato-hepatitis). Liver biopsy and long term follow-up can be helpful for definite diagnosis and determination of prognosis.     https://jims.mui.ac.ir/article_13433_c7876d6b0f9d5461fd3e87c0d1e51e12.pdf