title: Low molecular weight heparin-induced liver toxicity.
abstract: The authors report two cases of hepatotoxicity induced by low molecular weight heparin. A 26-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were treated with low molecular weight heparin for pulmonary embolism and cerebral infarction, respectively. They both developed derangement in liver function tests a few days after commencement of the low molecular weight heparin. The derangement in liver function tests was associated with a decreased serum complement 3 activity. Their liver functions recovered over a period of 2 to 3 months after low molecular weight heparin was stopped. Liver biopsy in the woman demonstrated balloon degeneration with scattered foci of hepatocytic necrosis, suggesting a complement-mediated hepatocellular damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D017762:Nadroparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D003176:Complement C3; D017984:Enoxaparin; D017762:Nadroparin