Orlistat-induced fulminant hepatic failure. 2014

D Sall, and J Wang, and M Rashkin, and M Welch, and C Droege, and D Schauer
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Orlistat was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998 and has been shown to be superior to placebo in achieving weight loss. It is generally well tolerated. However, severe liver injury has been reported. We present a case of hepatic failure in a patient taking orlistat. A 54-year-old African-American woman with hypertension presented with hepatic failure. She had noticed increasing fatigue, jaundice and confusion. She used alcohol sparingly and denied tobacco or illicit drug use, but had been taking over-the-counter orlistat for the past two months. Physical examination revealed scleral icterus, jaundice, asterixis and slow speech. Laboratory testing showed markedly abnormal liver function tests with coagulopathy. Acute viral and autoimmune serologies were negative, as was toxicology screen. Liver biopsy showed necrotic hepatic parenchyma likely secondary to drug toxicity. Based upon her clinical presentation and time course, the pattern of liver injury seen on liver biopsy and lack of an alternative plausible explanation, her liver failure was most likely associated with orlistat use. She continued to deteriorate and ultimately underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Fourteen cases of severe liver injury associated with orlistat use have been reported, four of which are detailed in the literature. This is the second published case of liver failure associated with over-the-counter orlistat usage. Clinicians should be aware of the growing number of cases associating liver injury and orlistat use and carefully monitor their patients on this medication for signs of hepatic dysfunction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007783 Lactones Cyclic esters of hydroxy carboxylic acids, containing a 1-oxacycloalkan-2-one structure. Large cyclic lactones of over a dozen atoms are MACROLIDES. Lactone
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077403 Orlistat A lactone derivative of LEUCINE that acts as a pancreatic lipase inhibitor to limit the absorption of dietary fat; it is used in the management of obesity. 1-((3-Hexyl-4-oxo-2-oxetanyl)methyl)dodecyl-2-formamido-4-methylvalerate,Alli,Ro-18-0647,THLP,Tetrahydrolipastatin,Tetrahydrolipstatin,Xenical,Ro 18 0647
D017114 Liver Failure, Acute A form of rapid-onset LIVER FAILURE, also known as fulminant hepatic failure, caused by severe liver injury or massive loss of HEPATOCYTES. It is characterized by sudden development of liver dysfunction and JAUNDICE. Acute liver failure may progress to exhibit cerebral dysfunction even HEPATIC COMA depending on the etiology that includes hepatic ISCHEMIA, drug toxicity, malignant infiltration, and viral hepatitis such as post-transfusion HEPATITIS B and HEPATITIS C. Acute Hepatic Failure,Fulminant Hepatic Failure,Fulminating Hepatic Failure,Hepatic Failure, Fulminant,Liver Failure, Fulminant,Acute Liver Failure,Fulminating Liver Failure,Hepatic Failure, Acute,Failure, Acute Hepatic,Failure, Acute Liver,Fulminant Hepatic Failures,Fulminant Liver Failure,Fulminant Liver Failures,Fulminating Hepatic Failures,Fulminating Liver Failures,Hepatic Failure, Fulminating,Liver Failure, Fulminating
D019440 Anti-Obesity Agents Agents that increase energy expenditure and weight loss by neural and metabolic regulation. Anti-Obesity Agent,Anti-Obesity Drug,Antiobesity Agent,Antiobesity Drug,Weight-Loss Agents,Weight-Loss Drug,Anti-Obesity Drugs,Antiobesity Agents,Antiobesity Drugs,Weight-Loss Drugs,Agent, Anti-Obesity,Agent, Antiobesity,Agents, Anti-Obesity,Agents, Antiobesity,Agents, Weight-Loss,Anti Obesity Agent,Anti Obesity Agents,Anti Obesity Drug,Anti Obesity Drugs,Drug, Anti-Obesity,Drug, Antiobesity,Drug, Weight-Loss,Drugs, Anti-Obesity,Drugs, Antiobesity,Drugs, Weight-Loss,Weight Loss Agents,Weight Loss Drug,Weight Loss Drugs

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