Hydrazine, Cancer, the Internet, Isoniazid, and the Liver

Editorials5 December 2000Hydrazine, Cancer, the Internet, Isoniazid, and the LiverMartin Black, MD and Hamid Hussain, MDMartin Black, MDDrs. Black and Hussain: Temple University Hospital; Philadelphia, PA 19140 and Hamid Hussain, MDDrs. Black and Hussain: Temple University Hospital; Philadelphia, PA 19140Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-133-11-200012050-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The ready availability of medical information on the Internet, the burgeoning role of complementary and alternative therapies in present-day health care, and the failure of government to regulate such therapies combine to make the report by Hainer and coworkers in this issue (1) a timely warning. The authors describe a 55-year-old man with squamous-cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who accessed an Internet Web site that proclaimed benefits from hydrazine sulfate for people with cancer. He purchased the chemical from a source identified by the Web site and, forsaking medical supervision, took it for 4 months before presenting with evidence ...References1. Hainer MI, Tsai N, Komura ST, Chiu CL. Fatal hepatorenal failure associated with hydrazine. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133:877-880. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Gelles J. Web marketers to stop making unsubstantiated health claims. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 6 April 2000:C2B. Google Scholar3. Gold J. Use of hydrazine sulfate in terminal and preterminal cancer patients: results of investigational new drug (IND) study in 84 evaluable patients. Oncology. 1975;32:1-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Chlebowski RT, Bulcavage L, Grosvenor M, Oktay E, Block JB, Chlebowski JS, et al . Hydrazine sulfate influence on nutritional status and survival in non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1990;8:9-15. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Kosty MP, Fleishman SB, Herndon JE, Coughlin K, Kornblith AB, Scalzo A, et al . Cisplatin, vinblastine, and hydrazine sulfate in advanced, non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind phase III study of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:1113-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Loprinzi CL, Kuross SA, O'Fallon JR, Gesme DH, Gerstner JB, Rospond RM, et al . Randomized placebo-controlled evaluation of hydrazine sulfate in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:1121-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Loprinzi CL, Goldberg RM, Su JQ, Mailliard JA, Kuross SA, Maksymiuk AW, et al . Placebo-controlled trial of hydrazine sulfate in patients with newly diagnosed non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:1126-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Kamen J. Intent to kill. The government conspiracy to destroy hydrazine sulfate. Penthouse. 1998;Sep:42-174. Google Scholar9. Wheeler BM. Continuing: Biology of cachexia [Letter]. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:1077-8. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. Tolman KG, Sirrine RW. Occupational hepatotoxicity. Clin Liver Dis. 1998;2:563-89. CrossrefGoogle Scholar11. Sotaniemi E, Hirvonen J, Isomaki H, Takkunen J, Kaila J. Hydrazine toxicity in the human. Report of a fatal case. Ann Clin Res. 1971;3:30-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar12. Mitchell I, Wendon J, Fitt S, Williams R. Anti-tuberculous therapy and acute liver failure. Lancet. 1995;345:555-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Shakil AO, Kramer D, Mazariegos GV, Fung JJ, Rakela J. Acute liver failure: clinical features, outcome analysis, and applicability of prognostic criteria. Liver Transpl. 2000;6:163-9. MedlineGoogle Scholar14. Black M, Mitchell JR, Zimmerman HJ, Ishak KG, Epler GR. Isoniazid-associated hepatitis in 114 patients. Gastroenterology. 1975;69:289-302. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. Zimmerman HJ. Hepatotoxicity: The Adverse Effects of Drugs and Other Chemicals on the Liver. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999. Google Scholar16. Mitchell JR, Thorgeirsson UP, Black M, Timbrell JA, Snodgrass WR, Potter WZ, et al . Increased incidence of isoniazid hepatitis in rapid acetylators: possible relation to hydrazine metabolites. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1975;18:70-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar17. Nelson SD, Mitchell JR, Timbrell JA, Snodgrass WR, Corcoran GB. Isoniazid and iproniazid: activation of metabolites to toxic intermediates in man and rat. Science. 1976;193:901-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. Woodward KN, Timbrell JA. Acetylhydrazine hepatotoxicity: the role of covalent binding. Toxicology. 1984;30:65-74. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar19. Woo J, Chan CH, Walubo A, Chan KK. Hydrazine–a possible cause of isoniazid–induced hepatic necrosis. J Med. 1992;23:51-9. MedlineGoogle Scholar20. Sarich TC, Youssefi M, Zhou T, Adams SP, Wall RA, Wright JM. Role of hydrazine in the mechanism of isoniazid hepatotoxicity in rabbits. Arch Toxicol. 1996;70:835-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar21. Harati Y, Niakan E. Hydrazine toxicity, pyridoxine therapy, and peripheral neuropathy [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:728-9. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Martin Black, MD; Hamid Hussain, MDAffiliations: Drs. Black and Hussain: Temple University Hospital; Philadelphia, PA 19140Corresponding Author: Martin Black, MD, Temple University Hospital, Parkinson Pavilion, First Floor, 3401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Black and Hussain: Temple University Hospital, Parkinson Pavilion, First Floor, 3401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoFatal Hepatorenal Failure Associated with Hydrazine Sulfate Mark I. Hainer , Naoky Tsai , Steven T. Komura , and Charles L. Chiu Hydrazine and Isoniazid Peter W. Blue Metrics Cited byA smartphone-adaptable chromogenic and fluorogenic sensor for rapid visual detection of toxic hydrazine in the environmentSpectrophotometric estimation of hydrazine in various water samples via direct and indirect methodsHydrazineIdentifying Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage Information from Internet ResourcesThe Technological Growth in eHealth ServicesSelective synthesis of hydrazinium diselenophosphinates from secondary phosphines, elementary selenium, and hydrazineEducating patients to evaluate web-based health care information: the GATOR approach to healthy surfingTechnology-Enhanced Health Communities:Arylamine N-acetyltransferases and drug responseHydrazine and IsoniazidPeter W. Blue, MDEen alternatief geneesmiddel via Internet gekocht: betaald met fataal leverfalenDrug-induced liver disease 5 December 2000Volume 133, Issue 11Page: 911-913KeywordsCancer treatmentDrugsInternetIsoniazidKidneysLiverNecrosisRenal diseasesSulfatesToxicity ePublished: 5 December 2000 Issue Published: 5 December 2000 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...