Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2012; 18(22): 2756-2766
Published online Jun 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i22.2756
Toxic hepatitis in occupational exposure to solvents
Mariano Malaguarnera, Giuseppe Chisari, Giuseppe Nunnari, Maria Giordano, Emanuela Cataudella, Giulia Malaguarnera
Giulia Malaguarnera, Emanuela Cataudella, Maria Giordano, Mariano Malaguarnera, Research Centre “The Great Senescence”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Nunnari, Department of Infective Diseases, Hospital “Garibaldi di Nesima”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Chisari, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Science, Hospital Policlinico, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Author contributions: Malaguarnera G, Cataudella E and Giordano M performed and wrote the paper; Nunnari G and Malaguarnera M designed and performed the review; and Chisari G contributed data.
Correspondence to: Emanuela Cataudella, MD, Research Centre “The Great Senescence”, University of Catania, Via Messina, 829, 95100 Catania, Italy. emacata@hotmail.it
Telephone: +39-95-7262008 Fax: +39-95-7262011
Received: July 15, 2011
Revised: September 3, 2011
Accepted: April 12, 2012
Published online: June 14, 2012
Abstract

The liver is the main organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs and toxic chemicals, and so is the primary target organ for many organic solvents. Work activities with hepatotoxins exposures are numerous and, moreover, organic solvents are used in various industrial processes. Organic solvents used in different industrial processes may be associated with hepatotoxicity. Several factors contribute to liver toxicity; among these are: species differences, nutritional condition, genetic factors, interaction with medications in use, alcohol abuse and interaction, and age. This review addresses the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity. The main pathogenic mechanisms responsible for functional and organic damage caused by solvents are: inflammation, dysfunction of cytochrome P450, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The health impact of exposure to solvents in the workplace remains an interesting and worrying question for professional health work.

Keywords: Work activity; Hepatotoxicity; Hepatotoxin; Occupational disease; Inflammation