title: Hypericum perforatum-induced hepatotoxicity with possible association with copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii Desf):case report.
abstract: We report a case of liver damage in an elderly patient after the use of herbal products of Hypericum perforatum and copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii Desf). Hepatotoxicity related to Hypericum perforatum is anecdotally known, but for copaiba, widely used as anti-inflammatory, there is just experimental data in the national literature. This report aimed to draw attention to the possible toxic effects of this association as well as to the clinical recovery of the patient after discontinuing their use. There is a tendency to suspect of the action of drugs to justify a non-viral acute liver injury, because of the large number of drugs responsible for hepatotoxicity. There are experiments and clinical reports in the literature describing some herbal products, including Hypericum perforatum, as the causative agents of this aggression, and are considered innocuous and used with no restrictions. We must remember that adverse reactions also occur with these substances; hence, they should be investigated when collecting the patient´s history, for leading to severe liver failure.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marjorie Costa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Agollo
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sender Jankiel
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Miszputen
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jayme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diament
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts