[Verapamil-associated liver injury].
Hepatotoxicity due to verapamil is very rare and to the best of our knowledge only 10 cases have been reported. A 54-year-old woman developed cholestatic liver injury and pruritus following treatment with sustained-release verapamil (240 mg/day) for arterial hypertension. The pruritus and all hepatic biochemical abnormalities completely resolved after withdrawal of the drug. Similar to previously reported cases, the pathogenic mechanism of verapamil-associated liver injury in our patient was, most probably, idiosyncratic. These cases emphasize the need for awareness of the possibility that verapamil may occasionally induce liver injury, sometimes severe and potentially fatal.
Odeh
M
M
Medical Dept. B, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Technion, Haifa.
Oliven
A
A
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014700:Verapamil