title: A case of levocetirizine-induced liver injury.
abstract: Levocetirizine is a second-generation nonsedative antihistaminic agent that has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for treating allergic disease. There was only one case report of levocetirizine-induced liver toxicity, but a liver biopsy was not performed. In this article, we present the first case of levocetirizine-induced liver injury with histologic findings. A 48-year-old man was hospitalized with jaundice and generalized pruritus that had developed after 2 months of therapy with levocetirizine for prurigo nodularis. Laboratory findings revealed acute hepatitis with cholestasis. A liver biopsy demonstrated portal inflammation and hepatitis with apoptotic hepatocytes. The patient fully recovered 3 weeks after withdrawing levocetirizine. Although levocetirizine is safe and effective, physicians should be aware of its potential hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.|Division of Gastroenterology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ja Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Bohyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.|Division of Gastroenterology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.|Division of Gastroenterology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017332:Cetirizine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine
keywords: Cholestasis; Hepatotoxicity; Levocetirizine