Occupational exposure to
dimethylacetamide (DMAc) has been reported to cause
toxic hepatitis. Sixty spandex workers were included in this study to research the clinical manifestations and expression of
cytokines and lymphocytes in DMAc-induced
toxic hepatitis. Chinese drugs (
reduced glutathione and Hugan
tablets) were used to treat them. The manifestations including
jaundice,
asthenia, appetite,
nausea,
emesis, abdominal distension, yellow urine, and
dizziness were scored. The percentages of patients rated as 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 points were 33.3%, 43.3%, 21.7%, and 1.7%, respectively, before treatment, and all patients showed 0-3 points after the treatment. The ultrasonic and CT imaging revealed diffuse intrahepatic hypodensity, intrahepatic calcification, signs of liver injury, and
splenomegaly, which improved after
therapy. Blood analysis showed that ALT, AST, TBIL,
IL-6,
IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CD3+%, and CD4+/CD8+ statistically decreased after
drug treatment. Correlation analysis demonstrated positive linear correlations between ALT and TBIL, AST and TBIL,
IL-10 and ATL,
IL-10 and AST,
IL-10 and TBIL, IFN-γ and
IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α, and CD3+% and ALT. Pro-inflammatory
cytokines and lymphocytes in DMAc-induced
toxic hepatitis reflected an active immune state that decreased
after treatment.
IL-10 may inhibit the immune response in this disease, as a protective mechanism.