[Phenacetin abuse VI: autopsy statistics with special reference to extrarenal findings]

Aim of the study is to evaluate whether gastric ulcer, hypertension, myocardial infarction etc. form part of the analgesic syndrome in Switzerland. About 160 autopsies of phenacetin abusers and an appropriate number of non-abusers were systematically evaluated. 18% of phenacetin abusers have gastric ulcers. Thus, gastric ulcers are more frequent in phenacetin abusers than in non-abusers and are probably the consequence of the admixture of salicylates in several compound analgesics. A low body weight (body index 1), which--together with the brownish pigmentation of the skin--contributes to premature aging, is also part of the analgesic syndrome. 50-70% (clinical/pathological findings) of phenacetin abusers are hypertensive. Hypertension is more frequent in phenacetin abusers than in controls but is less likely to be due to the analgesic abuse itself than to analgesic nephropathy. Myocardial infarctions are found in 32% of phenacetin abusers (males 50%, females 20%). Myocardial infarction is not markedly more frequent in phenacetin abusers than in non-abusers. Thromboembolic diseases are clearly increased in controls. Splenomegaly does not, on the basis of autopsy findings, form part of the analgesic syndrome.