title: Chronic hepatic cytolysis revealing a pheochromocytoma.
abstract: We report here the first case of chronic cytolysis that led to the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, in a 48-year-old woman with a recent onset of hypertension. The etiological research ruled out the common causes of raised transaminase levels, and led to the discovery of a left adrenal pheochromocytoma. The sustained normalization of liver function tests after the removal of the tumour strongly suggests that hepatocyte injury was due to catecholamine hyperproduction. The present original clinical case, linking pheochromocytoma and liver dysfunction, raises important mechanistic questions concerning the relationship between catecholamines and liver function. It may also have clinical implications. Indeed, pheochromocytoma should be considered as a possible cause in case of unexplained transaminase increase associated with the recent onset of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies du foie, Inserm U-991, university of Rennes-1, CHU Pontchaillou, rue Henri-Le-Guilloux, 35033 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Timothée
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wallenhorst
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manunta
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bardou-Jacquet
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rioux-Leclerc
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brissot
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis