[Liver failure a la Eastern Europe]

Orv Hetil. 2009 Mar 22;150(12):555-7. doi: 10.1556/OH.2009.28585.
[Article in Hungarian]

Abstract

The use of valeriana was underplayed at the beginning of the 20th century because of its addictive and side effects. The 38-year-old woman, mother of a 20-month-old child from Eastern Europe, was treated with liver insufficiency and vascular, parenchymal decompensated cirrhosis needing plasmapheresis for the first time in our hospital. In case history, abusus of aethyl-alcohol and valeriana was found to be as toxic agent which was treated as the etiologic factor of the liver disease and liver failure. After intensive and conservative treatment her status was stabilised, during the follow-up she had no signs and symptoms, the laboratory results tend to be in normal range. Half year after her hospitalization intensive care treatment was necessary abroad due to gastric bleeding. In the background the histology of gastric biopsy taken during gastroscopic examination showed gastric sigillocellular carcinoma in our hospital. Total gastrectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy were performed, the tumor was removed and she received cytostatic treatment. The use of valeriana and aethyl-alcohol is supposed to have a potential effect on tumorgenesis and on the increase of toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Carcinoma* / complications
  • Carcinoma* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma* / etiology
  • Carcinoma* / therapy
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / adverse effects
  • Liver Failure* / chemically induced
  • Liver Failure* / diagnosis
  • Liver Failure* / etiology
  • Liver Failure* / therapy
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / complications
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Valerian / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Hypnotics and Sedatives