Premium
Antituberculous therapy–induced fulminant hepatic failure: Successful treatment with liver transplantation and nonstandard antituberculous therapy
Author(s) -
Idilman Ramazan,
Ersoz Sadik,
Coban Sahin,
Kumbasar Ozlem,
Bozkaya Hakan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.20839
Subject(s) - medicine , pyrazinamide , liver transplantation , transplantation , fulminant hepatic failure , ethambutol , rifampicin , surgery , isoniazid , liver function , tuberculosis , gastroenterology , pathology
Standard antituberculous therapy including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide is widely used for the treatment of active tuberculosis. Its most important side effect is hepatotoxicity, ranging from asymptomatic transaminitis to fulminant hepatic failure. A 19‐year‐old woman was admitted to our unit due to jaundice and unconsciousness. According to her past medical history, she was diagnosed as having extrapulmonary tuberculosis and had been prescribed standard antituberculous therapy. The patient became icteric and unconscious on the fourth day after therapy initiation. She was diagnosed with drug‐induced acute fulminant hepatic failure and underwent living‐related liver transplantation. Nonhepatotoxic antituberculous therapy (cycloserine, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and ethambutol) and low‐dose immunosuppressive therapy were started after transplantation. Currently the patient is very well with normal graft function 42 months after transplantation. Here we report a case of a patient with acute fulminant hepatic failure caused by isoniazid, rifampicin, or both, who was successfully treated with living‐related liver transplantation and a relatively less hepatotoxic antituberculous therapy. In conclusion, liver transplantation is a feasible therapy for individuals with standard antituberculous therapy–induced hepatic failure. Nonhepatotoxic antituberculous therapy may achieve control of active tuberculosis in such individuals after transplantation. Liver Transpl 12:1427–1430, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.