title: Acute cholestatic hepatitis during simvastatin administration.
abstract: Simvastatin, recently introduced in clinical practice for pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolemia, has been found to cause minor and reversible elevations of serum transaminases. We report a case of acute cholestatic hepatitis during simvastatin therapy. Clinical, biochemical, immunological, and histological findings were consistent with a simvastatin-induced liver damage through an immunological-mediated mechanism. This case suggests a careful monitoring of liver function tests during simvastatin therapy, and caution in continuing simvastatin administration when elevations of serum transaminases take place.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Medicina generale II, Ospedale Maggiore, Novara.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballaré
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zaccala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monteverde
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin