Hematological and biochemical changes in volatile substance abusing street children in İstanbul.

The aim of the study is to assess the hematological and biochemical changes of inhalant abusing adolescences in Istanbul, Turkey. The study subjects comprised 24 street children. Demographic characteristics, hematological markers, complete blood count tests and white blood cell differential and liver function tests (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase) were evaluated. The blood cell counts and studied biochemical parameters were within normal range for age and sex matched adolescences. Anemia was observed in only one girl who had hypermenorea. The duration and the amount of substance abuse were investigated for a correlation with the blood parameters, only the amount showed the possibility of a trend associated with Hb and Hct (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between the parameters except for the age. Although volatile abuse has been supposed to be related with anemia or other hematological abnormalities, we found no significant relation between volatile abuse and hematological or studied biochemical parameters. Alkaline phosphatase was the parameter found to be most affected, though being in normal range.