Liver Injury Induced by High-Dose Methylprednisolone Therapy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

authors:

avatar Krzysztof Gutkowski 1 , * , avatar Alina Chwist 2 , avatar Marek Hartleb 2

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia, kgutski@intertele.pl, Poland
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia, Poland
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 8; 656-661
article type: Case Report
received: May 30, 2011
accepted: June 20, 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.713

how to cite: Gutkowski K, Chwist A, Hartleb M. Liver Injury Induced by High-Dose Methylprednisolone Therapy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(8): 656-661. https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.713.

Abstract

Corticosteroids are used widely to treat many types of disease. In general, these drugs are considered safe for the liver; however, recent reports have demonstrated that high-dose methylprednisolone (MT) may cause severe liver injury. Here, we report a case of a 24-year-old female who was given pulsed MT therapy for multiple sclerosis. MT induced icteric hepatitis and impaired liver synthetic function. Hepatotoxicity developed several weeks after drug exposure, and the causal association with MT was confirmed by unintentional rechallenge test. A brief review of the literature on corticosteroid-induced hepatotoxicity is presented.

 

  • Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
    Corticosteroid-induced liver injury may develop several weeks after short term drug exposure, therefore patients who receive corticosteroid pulses should be screened for potential liver injury.
  • Please cite this paper as:
    Gutkowski K, Chwist A, Hartleb M. Liver Injury Induced by High-dose Methylprednisolone Therapy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(8):656-61. [DOI: 10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.713]

2011 Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved.

 

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