title: Aloe-induced toxic hepatitis.
abstract: Aloe has been widely used in phytomedicine. Phytomedicine describes aloe as a herb which has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-aging effects. In recent years several cases of aloe-induced hepatotoxicity were reported. But its pharmacokinetics and toxicity are poorly described in the literature. Here we report three cases with aloe-induced toxic hepatitis. A 57-yr-old woman, a 62-yr-old woman and a 55-yr-old woman were admitted to the hospital for acute hepatitis. They had taken aloe preparation for months. Their clinical manifestation, laboratory findings and histologic findings met diagnostic criteria (RUCAM scale) of toxic hepatitis. Upon discontinuation of the oral aloe preparations, liver enzymes returned to normal level. Aloe should be considered as a causative agent in hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Na
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dong Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Mook
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Myung Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts