Profile of SGOT and SGPT Levels among Glue Sniffers on Jalan Dg Tata Raya, Makassar

Abstract

Inhalant abuse, particularly glue sniffing, constitutes a major social and public health concern, predominantly affecting adolescents and street children. The toxic chemical constituents of glue have the potential to impair vital organs, most notably the liver, as indicated by elevated serum levels of hepatic enzymes, namely SGOT and SGPT. The present study aimed to evaluate SGOT and SGPT concentrations among individuals engaged in glue inhalation on Jalan Dg Tata Raya area of Makassar. A descriptive observational design was employed, and laboratory analyses of SGOT and SGPT were conducted using the IFCC kinetic enzymatic method. The study population comprised individuals with a confirmed history of glue inhalation. Findings revealed that 50% of participants exhibited SGOT and SGPT values exceeding the upper reference limit, whereas the remaining 50% demonstrated levels within the normal range. The elevation of hepatic enzyme activity is presumed to result from toxic chemical exposure leading to hepatocellular injury, while the maintenance of normal enzyme levels in other participants may be attributable to variability in exposure duration, frequency of inhalant use, and interindividual differences in hepatic metabolic capacity. Glue inhalation, therefore, poses a considerable risk for hepatic dysfunction, emphasizing the urgent need for preventive strategies and community-based educational interventions, particularly among adolescents, to mitigate the health consequences of inhalant abuse.