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. 2001 Jul;11(5):304-11.
doi: 10.1016/s1047-2797(00)00218-0.

Serum dioxin and hepatic abnormalities in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand

J E Michalek  1 , N S Ketchum, M P Longnecker
Affiliations

Serum dioxin and hepatic abnormalities in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand

J E Michalek et al. Ann Epidemiol. 2001 Jul.

Abstract

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, gamma-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.

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