Biomedical subjects

A James Hanje

Publications and source records attributed to A James Hanje.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Case report: fulminant hepatic failure involving duloxetine hydrochloride.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Duloxetine hydrochloride was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August 2004 for the treatment of major depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. Initial product labeling contained a precaution regarding the risk for increases in liver function test results. Recently, postmarketing research has revealed episodes of cholestatic jaundice and increases in transaminase levels to greater than 20 times normal in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: In this case report, we describe a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in remission and depression treated with duloxetine and mirtazapine. RESULTS: Approximately 6 weeks after increasing her duloxetine dose from 30 to 60 mg daily, she became jaundiced and presented with fulminant hepatic failure. Liver function tests immediately before initiating duloxetine were not available, although the patient carried no prior history of chronic liver disease. A complete work-up for alternate causes failed to reveal another explanation for the patient's clinical presentation. A liver biopsy examination showed histologic changes of subacute injury and the patient's clinical course was consistent with drug-induced liver injury. Despite aggressive measures, the patient's condition deteriorated and the decision was made to withdraw care. CONCLUSIONS: This report shows a case of fulminant hepatic failure and death involving duloxetine use. Given recent reports of severe hepatotoxicity associated with the use of duloxetine in patients with pre-existing liver disease, further investigation into the safety of this compound is warranted.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed2006

The use of selected nutrition supplements and complementary and alternative medicine in liver disease.

Almost all patients with liver disease, especially advanced liver disease, have some evidence of malnutrition, including mineral/vitamin deficiency. A major health trend in the United States has been the significant growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including nutrition supplements and herbal agents. In the 1990s, the United States government created the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), as well as the Office on Dietary Supplements, to extend our knowledge in these areas. CAM users are often highly educated and frequently use CAM therapy for chronic diseases, including chronic liver disease. Indeed, most studies suggest that patients with chronic liver disease frequently use nutrition supplements and CAM agents in addition to their traditional medicines. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the role of nutrition supplements and herbals in liver disease. This article will focus mainly on 7 selected agents (vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, S-adenosylmethionine, betaine, silymarin, and glycyrrhizin), for which there have been not only in vitro and animal studies but also human clinical trials, and we will review both potential efficacy and safety issues.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed2006

Thalidomide-induced severe hepatotoxicity.

Thalidomide is a relatively safe and efficacious form of therapy in the treatment of advanced, refractory multiple myeloma. Hepatotoxicity is listed as an extremely rare adverse effect associated with its use. We describe a 76-year-old woman with multiple myeloma who was treated with dexamethasone and thalidomide. By week 6 of therapy, she had developed acute increases in her aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels to more than 50 times the upper limit of normal. Her liver function test results had been within the normal ranges before and immediately after the start of therapy, and the patient had no known history of underlying liver disease. A liver biopsy specimen demonstrated evidence of acute injury with chronic changes of underlying steatosis and bridging fibrosis due to previously undiagnosed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Immediately after discontinuing thalidomide, her liver function test results began trending downward. Seven days later, her AST and ALT levels had improved to 86 and 165 U/L, respectively. This case and a limited number of other reports demonstrate severe hepatotoxicity as a rare but potentially serious adverse effect of thalidomide therapy. With the expanding use of thalidomide as a therapeutic agent, clinicians must recognize severe hepatotoxicity as a potential complication. Whether patients with preexisting liver disease are at increased risk when receiving thalidomide remains to be seen.

Aged↗