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Published on: January 2, 2017

Cholestatic hepatitis related to amoxicillin

Nabil Ben Chaabane1, Leila Safer, Leila Njim

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monastir Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia. nabilca@yahoo.fr

Drug and Chemical Toxicology
|July 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Amoxicillin alone, though rarely, can cause severe liver injury. This case highlights the potential for amoxicillin-induced cholestatic hepatitis, emphasizing the need for vigilance.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is a known cause of drug-induced liver injury.
  • Reports of amoxicillin monotherapy causing hepatic toxicity are infrequent.
  • Cholestatic hepatitis is a pattern of liver damage characterized by impaired bile flow.

Observation:

  • A 34-year-old woman presented with symptoms suggestive of liver dysfunction.
  • The patient had recently been treated with amoxicillin.
  • Laboratory tests and clinical presentation indicated severe cholestatic hepatitis.

Findings:

  • The patient's liver injury was attributed to amoxicillin treatment.
  • The severity of the cholestatic hepatitis was notable.
  • This case adds to the limited literature on amoxicillin-induced hepatotoxicity.

Implications:

  • Physicians should consider amoxicillin as a potential cause of cholestatic hepatitis, even in the absence of clavulanic acid.
  • Increased awareness of amoxicillin hepatotoxicity may lead to earlier diagnosis and management.
  • Further research into the mechanisms of amoxicillin-induced liver injury is warranted.

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