Tarantino G, Pezzullo MG, Dario di Minno MN, Milone F, Pezzullo LS, Milone M, Capone D. Drug-induced liver injury due to “natural products” used for weight loss: A case report. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15(19): 2414-2417 [PMID: 19452589 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.2414]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Giovanni Tarantino, MD, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Via S. Pansini, 5 80131 Naples, Italy. tarantin@nina.it
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2009; 15(19): 2414-2417 Published online May 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2414
Drug-induced liver injury due to “natural products” used for weight loss: A case report
Giovanni Tarantino, Martina Gilda Pezzullo, Matteo Nicola Dario di Minno, Francesco Milone, Luigi Sossio Pezzullo, Marco Milone, Domenico Capone
Giovanni Tarantino, Matteo Nicola Dario di Minno, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Via S. Pansini, 5 80131 Naples, Italy
Martina Gilda Pezzullo, Luigi Sossio Pezzullo, Department of General Surgery, Federico II University Medical School, 5 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Milone, Marco Milone, Department of Neuroscience, Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Federico II University Medical School, 5 80131 Naples, Italy
Domenico Capone, Department of General Surgery, ASL BN1 of Benevento, 5 80131 Naples, Italy
Author contributions: All authors analyzed and interpreted the patient data and made a major contribution to the writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Giovanni Tarantino, MD, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Via S. Pansini, 5 80131 Naples, Italy. tarantin@nina.it
Telephone: +39-81-7462024
Fax: +39-81-5466152
Received: January 10, 2009 Revised: April 10, 2009 Accepted: April 17, 2009 Published online: May 21, 2009
Abstract
Taking herbal-extracts to lose weight is an underestimated health hazard. Often, these products contain active agents that can cause acute liver damage. In this case report, a 22-year-old female patient, who presented with a feature of cholestatic syndrome, was so sure that the “natural products” were not dangerous that she did not inform her physicians that she had taken them, making their task that much more challenging. Clinical presentation mimicked acute cholecystitis and the patient underwent a cholecystectomy. Surgery was without any consequences and complications, although it did not completely cure the illness. She later admitted to having taken herbal remedies and this led to the correct diagnosis of phytotherapy-related hepatotoxicity and a successful therapeutic approach. The true incidence of phytotherapy-related hepatotoxicity and its pathogenic mechanisms are largely unknown. It is important to increase the awareness of both clinicians and patients about the potential dangers of herbal remedies.
