Fulminant hepatic failure after intravenous injection of sublingual buprenorphine in a patient with hepatitis C.
A 20-year-old indigenous Australian male was admitted to the intensive care unit with fulminant hepatic failure secondary to intravenous use of buprenorphine, which had been prescribed sublingually for opioid dependence. Intravenous buprenorphine-induced hepatitis is well recognized, however, life-threatening fulminant hepatic failure has not previously been reported.
Department of Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Austin Health Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Janine
J
French
Department of Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Austin Health Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Avik
A
Mujumdar
Department of Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Austin Health Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Peter
P
Angus
Department of Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Austin Health Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Paul
P
Gow
Buprenorphine; hepatitis C; liver failure; opioid dependence