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Fatal Hepatic Coma Complicating Oxymetholone Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
Author(s) -
Young G. P.,
Bhathal P. S.,
Sullivan J. R.,
Wall J. A. J.,
Fone D. J.,
Hurley T. H.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1977.tb03356.x
Subject(s) - medicine , peliosis hepatis , anabolic steroid , multiple myeloma , complication , surgery , hepatitis , alcoholic hepatitis , liver function , gastroenterology , anabolism , cirrhosis , alcoholic liver disease
Summary Fatal hepatic coma complicating oxymetholone therapy in multiple myeloma. G. P. Young, P. S. Bhathal, J. R. Sullivan, A. J. Wall, D. J. Fone and T. H. Hurley, Aust. N.Z. J. Med, 1977,7, pp. 47–51. Two patients with multiple myeloma died in acute liver failure. Both had been treated with the anabolic steroid oxymetholone and both subsequently developed severe cholestatic hepatitis. In one the histological lesion progressed despite cessation of oxymetholone therapy. Myeloma infiltration of the liver and peliosis hepatis were not seen. As a fatal outcome from cholestatic hepatitis due to oxymetholone is rare it is possible that an unknown potentiating factor is present in multiple myeloma that can lead to a fatal outcome. If oxymetholone therapy is to be used in such patients then close clinical and laboratory assessment of liver function should be carried out in an attempt to prevent this unusual and fatal complication.