Terbinafine-associated hepatic injury

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 115 - 117
• Main Authors: van 't Wout, Jan W., Herrmann, Werner A., de Vries, Richard A., Stricker, Bruno H.Ch
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.07.1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Antifungal Agents - adverse effects; Antifungals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Bilirubin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - blood; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - diagnosis; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Female; Hepatotoxicity; Humans; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Naphthalenes - adverse effects; Onychomycosis; Onychomycosis - drug therapy; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Terbinafine; Toxicity: digestive system; Antifungals; Hepatotoxicity; Onychomycosis; Terbinafine; Case study; Human; Hepatitis; Idiosyncrasy; Antifungal agent; Toxicity; Liver; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Mechanism of action
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(94)80146-0

We describe two cases of terbinafine-associated hepatic injury, in which a mixed cholestatic-hepatocellular type of hepatitis was present. In both cases extrahepatic cholestasis and viral hepatitis were excluded and involvement of other drugs was unlikely. In the first patient all abnormalities have disappeared, but in the second patient alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels have remained elevated (follow up 3 months after cessation of treatment with terbinafine). Most likely, the terbinafine-associated hepatic injury in these patients was caused by an idiosyncratic rather than a direct hepatotoxic reaction.