title: [Four cases of toxic liver injury associated with Dictamnus dasycarpus].
abstract: We report four cases of toxic hepatitis that occurred after taking a decoction made by boiling down the root of Dictamnus dasycarpus. The four patients had a median age of 60 years, common symptoms of jaundice and general weakness, and stated that they had not consumed alcohol for at least 5 years. The markers of hepatitis A, B, and C were all negative in the patients. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed common bile ducts with normal diameters. Two of the cases were a mother and daughter, and the other two were sporadic. All of them had consumed a decoction made by boiling down the root of Dictamnus dasycarpus five or six times daily until several days before admission. Dictamnus dasycarpus induced liver injury presenting with a benign course lasting less than 1 month after cessation of the causative agent. We suggest that this natural product can cause acute hepatitis in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Eui Geun
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hee Bok
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Soon Je
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joon Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D036905:Dictamnus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography