Symptomatic hepatocellular liver injury with hyperbilirubinemia in two patients treated with rivaroxaban

Treatment with the new oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban can be associated with severe liver injury.

We report 2 patients with predominantly hepatocellular liver injury that had onset during treatment with rivaroxaban. Both were symptomatic, had massively elevated transaminase activity levels and hyperbilirubinemia, and fulfilled the criteria of Hy's law. Liver biopsy in 1 patient revealed centroacinar hepatocyte necrosis as the predominant finding. Both patients showed a rapid biochemical and clinical recovery after discontinuing rivaroxaban therapy. Between 2008 and 2013, 42 cases of liver injury possibly associated with rivaroxaban treatment have been reported to the Swiss Agency of Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic). Thirteen of these patients fulfilled the criteria of Hy's law.

Treatment with rivaroxaban can be associated with severe, symptomatic liver injury. Physicians should be aware of this adverse drug reaction. We propose rapid discontinuation of treatment with rivaroxaban in case of symptomatic liver injury and, taking into account its severity, avoiding reexposure.