Related Experiment Videos
Fatal hepatitis associated with ketoconazole therapy.
Archives of Internal Medicine
|May 1, 1984
Summary
Ketoconazole, an antifungal medication, may cause severe liver damage. A patient developed fatal liver failure after two months of ketoconazole treatment, with no other cause identified.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Ketoconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent used to treat various fungal infections.
- Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a significant concern in clinical practice.
- Monitoring liver function is crucial during prolonged medication use.
Observation:
- A 67-year-old woman presented with jaundice, anorexia, and malaise after two months of ketoconazole therapy (200 mg daily).
- Hospital admission revealed markedly elevated liver enzymes.
- The patient rapidly progressed to fatal liver failure.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed acute hepatic necrosis.
- No evidence of viral hepatitis was found clinically or serologically.
- Ketoconazole was implicated as the likely cause of the fatal hepatic failure.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential hepatotoxicity of ketoconazole.
- It underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring for liver injury in patients on ketoconazole.
- Further research into the mechanisms of ketoconazole-induced liver injury is warranted.