Korean J Med.  1999 Jul;57(1):118-121.

A case of aplastic anemia after habitual sniffing of glue and volatile substances

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Red Cross Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Clinical Pathology, Seoul Red Cross Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The inhalation of volatile substances has becoming a popular fad among adolescents in the world. Glue sniffing is associated with injury of nervous system, liver and kidney. And rarely abnormality of blood and bone marrow suppression can develop. The main components of volatile substances that cause hematologic abnormality is thought to be benzene, toluene, and xylene. A 24 year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to gum bleeding. He was a chronic glue and organic solvents sniffer for 6 years, and quit sniffing 1 year before admission. He had no specific drug history. On admission, CBC was as follows: WBC 2,500/mm3; hemoglobin 8.9g/dl; hematocrit 25.1%; platelet 2,000/mm3. Bone marrow biopsy showed severe hypocellular marrow compatible with aplastic anemia. We report a case of aplastic anemia after habitual sniffing of glue and volatile substances with brief review of the literature.

Keyword

Aplastic anemia; Glue sniffing; Toluene; Xylene

MeSH Terms

Adhesives*
Adolescent
Anemia, Aplastic*
Benzene
Biopsy
Blood Platelets
Bone Marrow
Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
Gingiva
Hematocrit
Hemorrhage
Humans
Inhalant Abuse
Inhalation
Kidney
Liver
Male
Nervous System
Solvents
Toluene
Xylenes
Young Adult
Adhesives
Benzene
Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
Solvents
Toluene
Xylenes
Full Text Links
  • KJM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr