1. Aripiprazole reduces liver cell division.
- Author
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Pirc Marolt T, Kramar B, Bulc Rozman K, Šuput D, and Milisav I
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Count, Cell Division genetics, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Cell Proliferation genetics, Cell Survival drug effects, Cell Survival genetics, Cellular Senescence drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, Rats, Aripiprazole pharmacology, Cell Division drug effects, Liver cytology
- Abstract
Effects of aripiprazole on dopamine regulation are being tested as a treatment for patients with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and addictions, often cocaine dependence. Aripiprazole has one of the fewest side-effects among the second-generation antipsychotics. Nevertheless, severe aripiprazole hepatotoxicity was reported in persons with a history of cocaine and alcohol abuse. Here we report that therapeutically relevant aripiprazole concentrations, equal to laboratory alert levels in patients' serum, reduce the rate of hepatocytes' division. This could be an underlying mechanism of severe liver injury development in the patients with a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse, the two hepatotoxic agents that require increased ability of liver self-regeneration. Monitoring liver functions is, therefore, important in the cases when aripiprazole is co-prescribed or used with drugs with potential hepatotoxic effects., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Published
- 2020
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