title: Onset of liver damage after a single administration of infliximab in a patient with refractory ulcerative colitis.
abstract: We report the case of a patient with refractory ulcerative colitis who developed cholestatic acute liver damage after a single infusion of infliximab. Unusual aspects of this case were the early onset (after the first administration) of liver damage and the absence of antinuclear antibodies, alcohol intake, hepatotoxic drugs and all known viral and metabolic causes of hepatic injury. Moreover, no serological or morphological findings of primary sclerosing cholangitis were observed. The patient's liver damage resolved spontaneously within 6 weeks. Although a direct relationship between administration of infliximab and onset of acute liver damage could not be definitely established, our case suggests that infliximab may induce direct liver damage, the course of which is similar to acute cholestatic hepatitis and resolves following withdrawal of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. e.ierardi@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ierardi
authors.forename: Nicola Della
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Maurizio Cosimo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nacchiero
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Francesco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoppino
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panella
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab