[Fulminant hepatitis induced by disulfiram in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis. Survival after liver transplantation]

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 1989 Dec;13(12):1075-8.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Fulminant hepatitis was observed in a 44-year-old patient with cirrhosis, 38 days after the beginning of a treatment by disulfiram. Hepatitis was associated with fever and hypereosinophilia. Liver transplantation was performed with success. We reviewed 15 previously published cases of disulfiram-induced hepatitis. They occurred from 10 to 180 days after the beginning of the treatment by disulfiram, aminotransferases were increased whereas alkaline phosphatases were not markedly changed; there was either focal or widespread necrosis. Fulminant hepatitis was observed mainly in patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease or in patients who continued to ingest disulfiram while jaundice was already present. An immunoallergic mechanism is thought to be responsible for disulfiram-induced hepatitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / complications*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / surgery
  • Disulfiram / adverse effects*
  • Disulfiram / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / drug therapy
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Male

Substances

  • Disulfiram