CLINICAL EFFICACY OF ESSENTIAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN PATIENTS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

A total of 45 workers, who had been chronically exposed to a potential ly hepatotoxic xylene - toluene - benzene mixture in the atmosphere, w ere treated for 3 months with 'essential' phospholipids. Routine bioch emical tests and radioisotope investigations to assess liver damage we re carried out both at baseline and after treatment. The liver:spleen index was increased in 71% of subjects and the mean isotope transit ti me in the liver was reduced in 90% of the patients after treatment. Th e biochemical parameters remained within the normal range throughout t he treatment period. The results suggest that 'essential' phospholipid s may be of value in the treatment of liver damage that has arisen as a result of chronic exposure to organic solvents.