Background: White smoke bomb exposure in the military setting could result in organ injuries, which is uncommon and has been rarely described in previous studies. The aim of this study is to observe whether serum zinc levels are associated with liver function after white smoke inhalation.
Methods: Fifteen patients with white smoke exposure were the subjects in this study. The clinical manifestations, liver function tests and the serum zinc levels were analysed.
Results: The level of serum zinc was increased in the moderate or severe group (n = 4) compared with that in the mild group (n = 11). The four cases in the moderate or severe group had delayed impairment of liver function with an elevation of alanine transaminase. Additionally, increased blood concentrations of hyaluronic acid were found in three patients in the moderate or severe group. But no hexachloroethane or trichloropropane was detected.
Conclusion: This study suggested that serum zinc levels may be associated with the severity of liver injuries after white smoke inhalation.
Keywords: Zinc chloride; liver function; smoke inhalation injury.