Erowid
 
 
Plants - Drugs Mind - Spirit Freedom - Law Arts - Culture Library  
Donate BTC or other Cryptocurrency
Your donation supports practical, accurate info about psychoactive
plants & drugs. We accept 9 cryptocurrencies. Contribute a bit today!
1997 Brauer MDMA Health Study
Abstract
Liver transplantation for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure induced by the ingestion of ecstasy,
by R.B. Brauer; C.D. Heidecke; W. Nathrath; K.T.E. Beckurts; P. Vorwald; T.R. Zilker; U. Schweigart; A.H. Holscher; J.R. Siewert
Transpl International Vol 10, 1997; 229-233




Methylenedimethoxymethamphetamine (MDMA), more commonly known as ecstasy, is a synthetic amphetamine derivative used by teenagers and young adults in the United States as well as in Western Europe as a "dance drug". Though a number of complications associated with this drug have been reported, there is little information pertaining to hepatoxity as a result of MDMA ingestion. This case report is about an 18-year-old female patient who regularly used ecstasy on weekends over a 2-month period. Within 2 days after accepting a "hit" of the substance at a party, she was admitted to the hospital because of lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, stool discoloration, icterus, and darkened urine. On day 7 she developed fulminant hepatic failure with reduced hepatic coagulation factors and grade IV encephalopathy. Orthotopic liver transplantation was carried out 10 days following the ingestion. The patient made a full recovery within 72 h and was released from the hospital 6 weeks later. Histopathological examination of the removed liver revealed a nutritive-toxic liver necrosis. This case demonstrates that the ingestion of ecstasy, even on an infrequent basis, can lead to acute fulminant liver necrosis, and that this life-threatening complication can be treated successfully by liver transplantation.