Liver injury after aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid treatment of hemorrhoids

World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jul 21;23(27):5034-5040. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i27.5034.

Abstract

We are reporting a rare case of acute liver injury that developed after an internal hemorrhoid treatment with the aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) regimen. A 41-year-old man developed a fever and liver injury after undergoing internal hemorrhoid treatment with a submucosal injection of ALTA with lidocaine. The acute liver injury was classified clinically as hepatocellular and pathologically as cholestastic. We could not classify the mechanism of injury. High eosinophil and immunoglobulin E levels characterized the injury, and a drug lymphocyte stimulation test was negative on postoperative day 25. Fluid replacement for two weeks after hospitalization improved the liver injury. ALTA therapy involves injecting chemicals into the submucosa, from the rectum to the anus, and this is the first description of a case that developed a severe liver disorder after this treatment; hence, an analysis of future cases as they accumulate is desirable.

Keywords: Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid injection; Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid therapy; Drug-induced liver injury; Drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test; Rectal submucosal injection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Alum Compounds / adverse effects
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / blood
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Fever / blood
  • Fever / etiology
  • Hemorrhoids / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intralesional / adverse effects*
  • Lidocaine / administration & dosage
  • Lidocaine / adverse effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / blood
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Sclerosing Solutions / administration & dosage
  • Sclerosing Solutions / adverse effects*
  • Sclerotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Sclerotherapy / methods
  • Tannins / administration & dosage
  • Tannins / adverse effects

Substances

  • Alum Compounds
  • Sclerosing Solutions
  • Tannins
  • aluminum sulfate
  • Lidocaine