title: Fatal fulminant hepatic failure related to the use of disulfiram.
abstract: We report a case of fatal fulminant hepatic failure related to the use of disulfiram. This is a commonly used medication; however there are few reported cases in the medical literature of fatal liver failure related to its use. Patients using disulfiram for alcohol cessation typically have multiple risk factors for liver disease and are not acutely candidates for orthotopic liver transplant due to recent alcohol dependence. This case demonstrates a rare adverse reaction to a commonly used medication with a fatal outcome. Our patient was a sixty-six year old man who had recently started using disulfiram for the purpose of alcohol cessation. He developed hepatotoxicity that progressed to fulminant hepatic failure. Despite cessation of the medication and supportive care, the outcome was fatal.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Richa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Tobias J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vancil
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D004221:Disulfiram