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Thalidomide‐associated hepatitis: A case report
Author(s) -
Fowler Robert,
Imrie Kevin
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.1062
Subject(s) - thalidomide , medicine , plasmacytosis , multiple myeloma , pomalidomide , hepatitis , aplastic anemia , immunology , gastroenterology , dermatology , bone marrow
Abstract We report a case of hepatitis in a 58‐year‐old woman being treated with thalidomide for end‐stage plasma cell leukemia. The patient had a medical history including chronic stable hepatitis C infection. At diagnosis there was a severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcemia, IgG paraproteinemia, peripheral blood myeloma cells, and a marrow plasmacytosis with lytic bony lesion. The disease was refractory to standard chemotherapy, and she was treated with oral thalidomide. Within 1 week she became jaundiced and developed a marked transaminitis. This promptly resolved upon cessation of thalidomide alone. Thalidomide has recently enjoyed renewed interest as a treatment in many disorders, including plasma cell leukemia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of thalidomide‐associated hepatotoxicity. Although the mechanism of its actions on the liver are uncertain, it is possible that thalidomide acts as a direct hepatotoxin or as an immuno‐modulator, altering the activity of chronic viral hepatitis. We present this case to increase awareness of a new potential side effect of thalidomide as its clinical indications expand. Am. J. Hematol. 66:300–302, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.