Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series
Background: Khat chewing is common especially among men in East Africa and Yemen. It is generally viewed by the populace as a benign social custom. Several studies of ethnic Somali immigrants to Western countries suggest an association between khat chewing and hepatotoxicity, but the risk of hepatot...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2016-07-01
|
| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1124 |
| _version_ | 1818435350339518464 |
|---|---|
| author | Hawa D. Mahamoud Sabah Mohammed Muse Lewis R. Roberts Philip R. Fischer Michael S. Torbenson Tim Fader |
| author_facet | Hawa D. Mahamoud Sabah Mohammed Muse Lewis R. Roberts Philip R. Fischer Michael S. Torbenson Tim Fader |
| author_sort | Hawa D. Mahamoud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Khat chewing is common especially among men in East Africa and Yemen. It is generally viewed by the populace as a benign social custom. Several studies of ethnic Somali immigrants to Western countries suggest an association between khat chewing and hepatotoxicity, but the risk of hepatotoxicity related to khat chewing within African settings is not documented.
Aim: To identify and describe liver disease without evidence of alcohol exposure or infectious etiology in khat chewers.
Settings: A university-affiliated teaching hospital in Somaliland.
Methods: Cases of cirrhosis of unknown cause were identified from the clinical practice of Al Hayatt Hospital in Borama, Somaliland, during 14 months beginning December 2012.
Results: Eight Somali men aged 27–70 years living in Somaliland were identified with cirrhosis of otherwise unknown cause. All chewed khat habitually for many years (15–128 bundles per day times years of use). A liver biopsy of one man was consistent with khat hepatotoxicity. Four of the eight men died during the study period.Conclusion: Khat chewing may be associated with health consequences including severe hepatotoxicity with cirrhosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:51:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64457f79c43d435ca2fc4ba0f9fc7b06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:51:29Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-64457f79c43d435ca2fc4ba0f9fc7b062022-12-21T22:54:02ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362016-07-0181e1e410.4102/phcfm.v8i1.1124403Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case seriesHawa D. Mahamoud0Sabah Mohammed Muse1Lewis R. Roberts2Philip R. Fischer3Michael S. Torbenson4Tim Fader5Department of Family Medicine, Amoud UniversityDepartment of Family Medicine, Amoud UniversityMayo Clinic, MinnesotaMayo Clinic, MinnesotaMayo Clinic, MinnesotaAmoud UniversityBackground: Khat chewing is common especially among men in East Africa and Yemen. It is generally viewed by the populace as a benign social custom. Several studies of ethnic Somali immigrants to Western countries suggest an association between khat chewing and hepatotoxicity, but the risk of hepatotoxicity related to khat chewing within African settings is not documented. Aim: To identify and describe liver disease without evidence of alcohol exposure or infectious etiology in khat chewers. Settings: A university-affiliated teaching hospital in Somaliland. Methods: Cases of cirrhosis of unknown cause were identified from the clinical practice of Al Hayatt Hospital in Borama, Somaliland, during 14 months beginning December 2012. Results: Eight Somali men aged 27–70 years living in Somaliland were identified with cirrhosis of otherwise unknown cause. All chewed khat habitually for many years (15–128 bundles per day times years of use). A liver biopsy of one man was consistent with khat hepatotoxicity. Four of the eight men died during the study period.Conclusion: Khat chewing may be associated with health consequences including severe hepatotoxicity with cirrhosis.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1124khathepatotoxicitycirrhosis |
| spellingShingle | Hawa D. Mahamoud Sabah Mohammed Muse Lewis R. Roberts Philip R. Fischer Michael S. Torbenson Tim Fader Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine khat hepatotoxicity cirrhosis |
| title | Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series |
| title_full | Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series |
| title_fullStr | Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series |
| title_full_unstemmed | Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series |
| title_short | Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series |
| title_sort | khat chewing and cirrhosis in somaliland case series |
| topic | khat hepatotoxicity cirrhosis |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hawadmahamoud khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries AT sabahmohammedmuse khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries AT lewisrroberts khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries AT philiprfischer khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries AT michaelstorbenson khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries AT timfader khatchewingandcirrhosisinsomalilandcaseseries |