TY - JOUR
T1 - Severe liver injury after treatment with the leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast
AU - Reinus, J. F.
AU - Persky, S.
AU - Burkiewicz, J. S.
AU - Quan, D.
AU - Bass, N. M.
AU - Davern, T. J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2000/12/19
Y1 - 2000/12/19
N2 - Background: In registration trials, zafirlukast, an asthma medication, caused asymptomatic elevated aminotransferase levels in up to 5% of participants. Until now, however, no cases of severe hepatitis attributed to zafirlukast have been reported. Objective: To report the clinical characteristics of three patients with severe hepatitis due to zafirlukast. Design: Case report. Setting: One community hospital and two university hospitals. Patients: Three middle-aged women taking zafirlukast, 20 mg twice per day. Intervention: Discontinuation of zafirlukast therapy in three patients, steroid therapy in two patients, and orthotopic liver transplantation in one patient. Measurements: Serum aminotransferase and bilirubin levels, standard blood tests for causes of hepatitis other than drug toxicity, and liver biopsy in two patients. Results: Patient 1 recovered spontaneously, had a severe relapse after inadvertent rechallenge with the medication, and ultimately made a complete recovery. Patient 2 developed subfulminant hepatic failure and required liver transplantation. Patient 3 developed severe hepatitis that improved after treatment with corticosteroids. Liver tissue was available from two patients and showed histologic changes commonly associated with drug reactions. Conclusion: Patients receiving zafirlukast may develop severe liver injury and should be observed for signs and symptoms of hepatitis.
AB - Background: In registration trials, zafirlukast, an asthma medication, caused asymptomatic elevated aminotransferase levels in up to 5% of participants. Until now, however, no cases of severe hepatitis attributed to zafirlukast have been reported. Objective: To report the clinical characteristics of three patients with severe hepatitis due to zafirlukast. Design: Case report. Setting: One community hospital and two university hospitals. Patients: Three middle-aged women taking zafirlukast, 20 mg twice per day. Intervention: Discontinuation of zafirlukast therapy in three patients, steroid therapy in two patients, and orthotopic liver transplantation in one patient. Measurements: Serum aminotransferase and bilirubin levels, standard blood tests for causes of hepatitis other than drug toxicity, and liver biopsy in two patients. Results: Patient 1 recovered spontaneously, had a severe relapse after inadvertent rechallenge with the medication, and ultimately made a complete recovery. Patient 2 developed subfulminant hepatic failure and required liver transplantation. Patient 3 developed severe hepatitis that improved after treatment with corticosteroids. Liver tissue was available from two patients and showed histologic changes commonly associated with drug reactions. Conclusion: Patients receiving zafirlukast may develop severe liver injury and should be observed for signs and symptoms of hepatitis.
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U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-133-12-200012190-00011
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-133-12-200012190-00011
M3 - Article
C2 - 11119397
AN - SCOPUS:0034687835
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 133
SP - 964
EP - 968
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 12
ER -