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[Acute cholestatic hepatitis induced by dextromethorphan]
C de la Serna Higuera1, S J Rodríguez Gómez, A Pérez Villoria
1Unidad de Digestivo, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Zamora.
Gastroenterologia Y Hepatologia
|December 11, 1999
Summary
Dextromethorphan, a cough medicine, can cause liver injury (cholestatic syndrome) in some individuals. Stopping the medication led to rapid recovery and normalized liver function markers.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Hepatology
- Clinical Toxicology
Background:
- Dextromethorphan is a widely used antitussive agent.
- Flu-like syndromes are common indications for symptomatic treatment.
- Adverse drug reactions require careful monitoring and reporting.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old female presented with a flu-like syndrome.
- She was treated with dextromethorphan.
- Five days later, a cholestatic syndrome developed without fever or abdominal pain.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of dextromethorphan resulted in rapid clinical improvement.
- Biochemical markers of cholestasis decreased following drug withdrawal.
- Complete normalization of liver function tests was observed within two months.
Implications:
- Dextromethorphan can induce cholestatic liver injury.
- Early recognition and withdrawal of the offending agent are crucial for recovery.
- Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of drug-induced cholestasis is important for patient safety.