2 1016-1430 Iran University of Medical Sciences 675 Surgery PATTERN OF MALIGNANT TUMORS IN KERMAN PROVINCE (EXCEPT RAFSANJAN CITY), 1996-1999 Zare Mehrjardi Ali b b Dept. of Pathology, Bahonar Hospital, Kerman, 76137, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 357 358 12 09 2012
674 Otorhinolaryngology VISCERAL LE ISHMANIASIS (KALA-AZAR) WI TH A RARE MANIFESTATI ON OF SUBMENTAL ADENOPATHY BARADARANFAR MH c BEINESH F d c From the Depts. Of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Pathology, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, I.R. Iran. d From the Depts. Of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Pathology, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, I.R. Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 353 355 12 09 2012 Visceral leishmaniasis is a protozoar disease caused by L.donovani. Transmission to humans (incidental host) occurs via insect bite and the phlebotomous (female sand-fly) transmits the disease. Common presentations of the disease include hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, but fever, chills and night sweats may be part of the disease's symptoms. Lymphadenopathy without systemic manifestations is a very rare presentation of the disease. We hereby present a 9 year old boy in whom the only presentation of visceral leishmaniasis in him was a 2x 1.5 cm submental mass without any signs or symptoms. After excisional biopsy Leishmaniasis was confirmed and the patient underwent medical management that resulted in complete recovery. Visceral leishmaniasis must be considered as a cause of lymphadenopathy in endemic areas. 673 Surgery GASTROESOPHAGEAL LE IOMYOMATOSIS IN A YOUNG WOMAN WITH V ULVAR LEIOMYOMATOSIS AND GALLSTONE DISEASE: REPORT OF A RARE CASE TAVASSOLI ALIREZA e TAVASSOLI FATEMEH SHARIF NORIE SADRIZADEH ALI e From the Department of Surgery, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences,Mashhad, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 347 352 12 09 2012 Gastroesophageal-vul var leiomyomatosis is a very rare condition it is characterized by diffuse, ill-defined proliferation of smooth muscle in the esophagus and vulva. We present an interesting case of esophageal leiomyomatosis in a woman with a history of vulvar leiomyomatosis and a gall bladder full of stones. She was 18-years old and had a 4 year history of vulvar mass and clitoromegaly, with subclinical dysphagia. This paper represents the first reported simultaneous occurrence of these three pathologic entities in the English literature. Esophago-vulvar leiomyomatosis should be considered in a young patient with vulvar mass and long-standing dysphagia in whom a smooth, tapered esophageal narrowing on barium study and circumferential esophageal wall thickening on CT scan are seen. An esophagectomy combined with a reconstruction procedure is indicated. 672 Anesthesia ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT IN A CASE OF KLIPPEL-FElL SYNDROME AND LITERATURE REVIEW HUSSAIN KHAN ZAHID KHODADADI HASSAN REZA EGHTESADI-ARAGHI PAYAM k k From the Department of Anesthesiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 343 346 12 09 2012 Klippel-Feil syndrome is known by the classic triad of shortness of the neck , limitation of neck movements, and a low posterior hairline. There are often accompanying cervical spinal abnormalities such as kyphoscoliosis as well as urogenital and cardiac abnormalities. Presented here we have a 20 year old young man with hypoesthesia and decreased motor function in the right hand. The problem began one year back following a minor head trauma and had a progressive course involving the legs, especially the feet. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging was compatible with C3-C4 cord compression as well as blocked vertebrae. The patient was evaluated to be in Mallampati class II. Endotracheal intubation was performed employing gentle manual axial traction in both anterior and posterior operative approaches without any neurological sequela. It is recommended that in situations where fiberoptic or Bullard laryngoscopes are not available and Mallampati class is low, direct laryngoscopy associated with gentle axial traction may be a plausible substitute. 671 Microbiology and Anatomy EFFECT OF AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS ON GROWTH AND TOXIN PRODUCTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE ATAEE KACHOEE RAMAZAN ALI l BEHZADIAN NEJAD QHORBAN m l From the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Military Medicine Institute, Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran m the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, I.R. Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 337 341 12 09 2012 It is known that the major etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis in man is Clostridium difficile. With respect to traditional use of almond paste in the treatment of infantile diarrhea, we studied the effects of the aqueous extract of Amygdalus communis (AEAC) on the growth and toxin production of Clostridium difficile in culture medium and the rabbit ligated ileal loop. Three groups of male New Zealand white rabbits (1.5 -2 kg) were used in this study and ligated segments of the small intestine (4 -5cm) were prepared and injected with 1 mL of 24 hour extract culture filtrate, a mixture of vegetative cells of Clostridium difficile and different concentrations of AEAC, 1 mL mixture of purified toxins (A and B) and AEAC, and 1mL suspension of bacterium (10000 CFU/mL) alone. The results of this study revealed that AEAC at a concentration above 80 mg/mL completely inhibited the growth of Clostridium difficile. Although concentrations below 80 mg/mL of AEAC did not inhibit bacterial growth, synthesis or excretion of toxins A and B were inhibited. Injection of the mixture of AEAC and toxins A and B into the ligated segments of the small intestine yielded a positive result with no fluid accumulation at a level acceptable for diarrhea in comparison with positive controls (p<0.0 1). In conclusion, although inoculation of bacterial suspension plus AEAC into the ileum of the animal model prevented colonization, growth, and toxin production, the results varied according to the concentration of both AEAC and number of viable bacteria. Thus, the significance of these results relative to the use of almond paste in prevention of gastrointestinal disease due to Clostridium difficile, requires further study 670 Parasitology and Mycology PHOSPHOLIPID ANALOGUE DISTRIBUTIONS OF IRANIAN ISOLATES OF CANDIDA ZAREI MAHMOUDABADI ALI n B. DRUCKER DAVID o n From the Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran o The University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester, UK. 1 2 2004 17 4 331 336 12 09 2012 The aim of this study was to analyse polar lipids of Candida species isolated from Ahwaz (Iran) by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB MS). Nine isolates of Candida Sp. were identified by growth at 45°C, production of chlamydoconidia on cornmeal agar, colonial colour on CHROMagar Candida, germ tube production and ID 32C kits. Then polar lipids were extracted from freeze-dried cultures and analysed using FAB MS. The most intense carboxylate and phospholipid molecular species anions were of m/z 281 (CI 8:1) and miz 51 5 (PA 23:2). However, the most intense carboxylate and phospholipid analogues in Candida parapsilosis were 292 (Un) and 555 (PA 26:3), which differed from other yeasts. Isolates were grouped by single linkage clustering based on correlation coefficient for strain pairs calculated with carboxylate and phospholipid molecular species distributions. FAB MS can differentiate the C. albicans based on analysis of polar lipid distributions. These findings support that differentiation between C. albicans and other species is possible based on polar lipids. 669 Physiology VASODILATOR EFFECTS OF ACETYLCHOLINE IN AN EXPERIMEN TAL MODEL OF HEART FAILURE MOHAMMADI NAGHADEH M p MCGRATH JC p From the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, I.R. Iran, the Clinical Research Initiative ill Heart Failure, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G21 8QQ 1 2 2004 17 4 319 324 12 09 2012 The purpose of the work presented here was to investigate endotheliumdependent relaxations in the rabbit coronary ligation model of heart failure. We investigated endothelium-dependent relaxations at the level of larger vessels (thoracic aorta and vena cava left renal artery and left renal vein lateral saphenous artery and lateral saphenous vein and finally central ear artery and marginal ear vein) in a model devised to mimic heart failure. The model presented here i s the rabbit coronary ligation model in which myocardial infarction was produced in male New Zealand white rabbits (2.6kg-3.0kg) by ligation of the marginal branch of the left descending coronary artery. The development of chronic heart failure was allowed to proceed over eight weeks. Animals were killed by overdose with pentobarbitone sodium (i.v. injection). Arteries and veins were carefully removed with as little connective tissue as possible and placed i n cold physiological salt solution (PSS). The arterial and venous rings were mounted in 10mL isolated organ baths, bathed in Krebs maintained at 37°C and gassed with 95% 02 plus 5% CO2 , The rings were then placed under different resting tensions. Acetylcholine (ACh) was chosen as endothelium-dependent vasodilator. After initial application of tension, tissues were left to equilibrate for a 60 min period. Then all tissues were precontracted with noradrenaline (1µM) nearly ten minutes before initial application of vasodilator. This induced submaximal contraction in all vessels with the exception of the ear vein. When the noradrenaline-induced contraction reached a plateau, cumulative concentration-response curves (CCRC) to acetylcholine were obtained by increasing the concentration in half-log increments. The results led to two major conclusions with respect to the model. First, the relaxation responses to acetylcholine were not impaired. Second, the results of our experiments in this model of heart failure suggest that normal stimulation of endothelial NO is preserved in peripheral conduit and capacitance vessels. 668 Heart PREPARATION OF ENRICHED IMMUNOGLOBULIN M AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN A FROM HUMAN PLASMA MOUSAVI HOSSEINI KAMRAN POURMOKHTAR MOJGAN DINAR VAND RASSOUL REZVAN HOURI JALILI MOHAMMAD ALI From the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization Research Center and Iranian Blood Research and Fractionation Co., Tehran the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. From the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization Research Center and Iranian Blood Research and Fractionation Co., Tehran From the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization Research Center and Iranian Blood Research and Fractionation Co., Tehran 1 2 2004 17 4 315 318 12 09 2012 As IgM and IgA-enriched preparations are needed to complete the immunotherapeutic spectrum, a simple procedure is described for the preparation of IgM and IgA enriched immunoglobulins. Fraction III which was prepared by cold ethanol fractionation was treated by octanoic acid followed by ethanol precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography using Sephadex DEAE A-50 and 0.1 M tris-D.35M NaCI buffer, pH 8.1, resulting in recovery of 85 % IgM, 84% IgA and 33 % IgG. The comparison of our results with immunoglobulins' percentage in plasma indicates that IgM and IgA -enrichment was obtained by three times. 1619 Medical Basic Sciences THE EFFECT OF ANTIBIOTICS ON LPS RELEASE FROM SALMONELLA TYPHI AND I T S RELATION TO TNF-a, PRODUCTION BY HUMAN WHOLE BLOOD, "EX-VIVO" SHAJARI GHOLAMREZA ABARAEI BAHMAN SARRAFNEJAD ABDOLFATTAH From the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Department of Bacterial Vaccine and Antigen Production, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Hygiene, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 309 314 17 11 2012 It seems that rapid destruction of gram negative bacteria by antibiotics contributes to the clinical deterioration of some patients with gram negative infections. Antibiotics increase the concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in blood and cerebrospinal fluids. Released LPS can activate blood cells to produce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and other cytokines. TNF-a appears to be a major mediator in development of fever, hypotension, multi-organ failure and death. In this research, standard Salmonella typhi Ty 2 -5536, a pathogenic Salmonella and standard Escherichia coli K12,QD5003 for comparing, were incubated in the presence of chloramphenicol, ampicillin and'co-trimoxazole at concentrations that killed >99.9% of organisms as determined by quantitative culture techniques. The results obtained showed that chloramphenicol produced lower LPS levels and lower TNF-a levels from whole blood cells when compared with those of ampicillin and co-trimoxazole. Therefore chloramphenicol is the preferred antibiotic against S. typhi because it decreases the induced-pathological effect of TNF-a in gram negative infections. 1617 Pediatric LOW DOSE PREDNISOLONE WITH INCREASE IN DOSAGE INTERVAL IN FREQUENT RELAPSING NEPHROTIC SYNDROME FALLAHZADEH MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN GHAMAR HASHEMI From the Department of Pediatrics, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran From the Department of Pediatrics, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 1 2 2004 17 4 305 308 17 11 2012 In order to avoid using cytotoxic drugs and to minimize prednisolone side effects in frequent relapsing or steroid-dependent idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, 35 patients, 3 to 15 (mean= 8.1) years of age, were studied. While in remission for at least 6 weeks, the dose of prednisolone was reduced to 0.1-0.37 (mean= 0.23) mg/kg/day as a single dose for 12 to 72 (mean= 27.6) months. It was followed by a tapering method, with gradual increase in the interval instead of decrease in the dose for about 10 to 12 months, and about 18.4 months follow-up without treatment. About 54.3% of the patients had no relapse during the treatment period and the relapse rate per patient per year was 3.94 during the preceding 12 months before the study, 0.51 during treatment (p<0.001) and 0.23 after discontinuation of the drug. Each relapse was treated by a standard dose of prednisolone for 2 months and then the low dose regimen was resumed. The patients tolerated the drug well with minimal side effects. It is concluded that long term, low-dose daily prednisolone therapy followed by gradual increase in the interval is a safe, well-tolerated and effective method of maintaining prolonged remission in most children with frequent relapsing idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. 1615 Pediatric HIGH-DOSE ORAL PYRIDOXINE FOR TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC RECURRENT INTRACTABLE SEIZURES AKHOONDIAN JAVAD TALEBI SAEED From the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ghaem General Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical From the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ghaem General Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical 1 2 2004 17 4 301 304 17 11 2012 Intractable epilepsy is a common clinical problem in pediatrics and approximately 13% of children with epilepsy experience intractable seizures. To determine the efficacy of pyridoxine in treating seizures, 30 infants and children with recurrent seizures were enrolled in the present study. All of them were treated with high-dose oral pyridoxine (40 mg/kg/day), as an adjunct to antiepileptic drugs. Clinical efficacy criteria were based on the daily frequency of seizures after therapy was initiated during the following three weeks. The results indicated that the mean frequency of seizures decreased significantly from the first (16.2±11) to the fourth visit (7±6.2) (p<O.OOl, t=4). Three patients became completely seizure free. No adverse effects of pyridoxine were apparent during the observation period. We conclude that pyridoxine is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated adjunct to routine antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of recurrent intractable seizures in children. 1613 Psychiatry CHANGING OF STUDENTS' VIEWS TOWARD ADDICTION BY SELF -INTRODUCED DRUG ABUSERS AND THEIR FAMILIES YOUNESI JALAL MOHAMMADI MOHAMMAD REZA From the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare Tehran, and the National Research Center of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. From the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare Tehran, and the National Research Center of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 297 300 17 11 2012 A group of high school students attended 7 educational sessions for a preventive drug abuse program. The students were exposed to drug abusers and their families. Drug abusers and their families informed the subjects about the consequences of addiction in their life: how they became addicted and how the addiction worsened their psychosocial life. Moreover their families explained to students the miserable situation of their family after addiction of one of the family members. Each session took about 70 minutes and the students were allowed to ask questions concerning addiction from drug abusers and their families. The results of pre-test and post-test of students' views toward addiction showed significant differences between the students' views before and after attending the sessions, and their views became more negative than before attending the sessions. The results were interpreted through social comparison (downward)I theory and the Iranian proverb once again prevailed: If you would like to learn morality, you should learn it from people who don't behave on morality. 667 Nephrology HEARING LOSS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS GHASEMI MM BAKHSHAEI M SAHEB JAMEI A From the Department of Otolaryngology and Nephrology, Ghaem Medical Centel; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 293 296 12 09 2012 Inner ear cells are sensitive to some metabolic and hormonal disorders, but the relation between chronic renal failure (CRF), regular dialysis treatment (RDT) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is still a debatable field. The object of this paper was to verify the presence of SNHL in patients submitted to hemodialysis with different duration due to CRF and in those submitted to conservative treatments compared to normal controls. Sixteen chronic renal failure patients, thirty CRF patients with different duration of hemodialysis (14 cases less than 5 years, 9 cases between 5 to 10 years and 7 cases more than 10 years) and sixteen controls were studied according to clinical exam, pure tone audiometry and immitanciometry. The hearing acuity in the CRF groups compared to the normal group showed impairment, mainly in 4 and 8 kHz. There was no statistically significant difference in hearing acuity between CRF patients on RDT and those with conservative management. 1661 Cardiology PREPARATION OF FIBRIN GLUE AS A BIOLOGICAL SEALANT TO CONTROL BLEEDING IN HEART MUSCLE AND BLOOD VESSELS JAHANMEHR S.A.H AHMADI S.H MOHAGHEGHI M.A AMANPOUR ZERAETI H EMAMI SA From the Paramedical Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. From the Paramedical Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 289 292 17 11 2012 Fibrin glue is used for control of bleeding in various surgical procedures. In this work the ability of fibrin glue to seal punctures in the vascular system is demonstrated. Blood samples were taken from rabbits, fibrinogen was separated and fibrin glue was eventually prepared. The rabbits were anesthetized and a midline incision was carried out. The heart and abdominal aorta were exposed. Punctures were made in different parts of the vascular system and bleeding was controlled either with (test) or without (control) fibrin glue. Oozing was also tested by scratching the rabbit's ears. A minimum of 6 rabbits was employed for each experience. The mean bleeding time using fibrin glue was found to be 37 seconds. This average without fibrin glue was more than 3 minutes. This study shows the powerful effect of this biological glue in bleeding control, and its routine use is therefore recommended, especially in major surgery. 666 Gynecology & Obstetrics SCREENING OF FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMAL ITIES BY OBSTETRIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN TEHRAN, IRAN DADGAR SR . BADAKHSH MH AMINI A DADGAR SH From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 285 288 12 09 2012 Early identification of fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities enables health care providers to form an appropriate management plan for each patient. The main objective of this study was to determine the role of ultrasonography in screening and identifying fetuses at risk for chromosomal abnormalities. A retrospective review of 6480 patients from the Obstetrics and Gynecology ward of Firouzgar hospital in Tehran was undertaken. Computer databases of patients were correlated to compare the results of the fetal ultrasonographic examination with the cytogenetic results from amniocentesis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the best correlations between ultrasonography findings and chromosomal abnormalities. Thirty-seven chromosomal abnormalities were found in 6480 fetuses (0.57%). Down syndrome was the most common finding with trisomy 18 and 13 being the next two most common abnormal findings. Multivariate analysis showed significant correlations between anomalies of the central nervous system, heart, face and neck, and extremities and increased nuchal fold, increased bowel echogenicity, abnormal biparietal diameter to femur ratio and the presence of chromosomal abnormalities (p value<O.OO l). Analysis of data indicated that the presence of any kind of ultrasonographic abnormality increases significantly the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. It is also suggested that a normal ultrasonographic examination in an otherwise at -risk patient will significantly reduce the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. 665 Endocrinology IMPACT OF IODIZED OIL INJECTION DURING PREGNANCY ON THYROID FUNCTION TESTS OF OFFSPRINGS SAADAT NAVID SHEIKH OLE SLAM ROBABEH AZIZI FEREIDOUN From the Endocrine Research Center; Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 277 283 12 09 2012 Previous studies have shown that injection of iodized oil in pregnant women can be used as a prophylactic strategy for iodine deficiency disorders and may improve the growth indices of their offspring. Since administration of pharmacological doses of iodine may lead occasionally to large goiter and rarely to hypothyroidism, in the present study the thyroid function tests of neonates and infants born to women who had received 480 mg iodized oil intramuscularly during pregnancy were assessed and compared to those of a control group. Of 277 cord blood samples obtained from Mazandaran and Khohkiluyeh-Boyerahmad provinces, 125 made up the case (injected) and 152 the control (noninjected) group. Of 1026 blood samples of the neonates and infants from Mazandaran province, 544 made up the case and 482 the control group. Serum T4, T3 and TSH concentrations were measured with RIA kits. In the cord blood samples, mean serum T4 in cases who had received iodized oil was lower than that of the control group: 140±32 vs. 149±33 nmol/L, respectively p<0.03. T3 and TSH were not however different. In the neonates and infants, T4 and T3 concentrations were significantly higher in the case than control group: 178±40 vs. 168±39 and 3.5±0.02 vs. 3.0±0.02 nmol/L, respecti vely, both p<0.001 1. In contrast, TSH concentrations were lower in the experimental group in comparison to control: 2.6±2.2 vs. 3.1±2.9 mU/L, respectively p<0.001. Increased T3 and decreased TSH were seen in infants of mothers who were injected in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Injection of iodized oil in pregnant women does not cause hypothyroidism in the offspings, however it does cause a transient increase in serum thyroid hormones and a decrease in TSH concentrations 663 Infectious Disease STUDY ON THE HEPATOTOXICITY OF ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS DRUGS IN 190 PATIE NTS WITH PULMONARY AND E XTRAPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS TAGHAVI NIKDOKHT AFZALI HASSAN SOHRABPOUR HAMID From the Department of Infectious Disease. Boo-Ali Hospital. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences the Department of Infectious Disease. Shahid Beheshti Hospital. Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Kashan the Department of Medicine. Labafi-Nejad Hospital. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran. l.R. Iran. 1 2 2004 17 4 271 275 12 09 2012 Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases that affects humans. The cause of this disease is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This disease affects approximately 8.8 million people worldwide and led to over 3 million deaths in 1995. 95% of those affected and 98% of deaths occurred in developing countries. Hepatic reactions constitute a major proportion of drug reactions to antituberculosis drugs being reported in 4% of cases treated with rifampin/isoniazid and pyrazinamide in the US A and 8-50% in India and developing countries. For the purpose of identifying the hepatotoxicity of anti-tuberculous drugs, this study was performed in hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran during 1994 to 1997. The current descriptive study was performed on hospitalized patients diagnosed as having active tuberculosis. History was taken from all the patients and clinical signs were recorded. Three sputum samples for mycobacterial acid fast stain examination and cultures (three consecutive days) were sent to Pasteur Institute. Liver function tests (AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, PT) were performed before treatment and repeated weekly for two weeks then two weekly for the first two months and then monthly until the end of treatment. From a total of 262 patients during the study, 190 patients were studied. 51 % were male and the rest were female. The lowest rate of TB was in the age group less than 5 and the most frequent rate ofTB was in the 56-65 years age group. 107 patients (56.2%) had active pulmonary tuberculosis and 43.7% had extra-pulmonary TB. 44.2% had positive smear sputum, 22.1 % had positive biopsy, and 33.6% were diagnosed based on clinical findings, xrays and other paraclinical tests. 25.7% of patients had increased ALT and AST following the treatment, and in 4.7% of cases the increase was 4-5 times normal and in 3.6% 5 times normal, 8.4% had increase in bilirubin and 6.8% had increase in bilirubin associated with increase in ALT and AST, 8.4% had increased alkaline phosphatase and 7.6% had disturbance in PT. Considering that 25.7% of the patients had increased levels of liver enzymes and in 3.6% of them the increased level exceeded 5 times that of normal and also 6 cases of 7 were over 35 years old, therefore, anti-tuberculosis drug consumption, must be considered more seriously in patients over the age of 35.