A rare case of cefepime-induced cholestatic liver injury

Abstract

Cefepime is widely used in the hospital setting, and only a few studies have reported neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity as side effects of this drug. Herein, we present a 93-year-old man who exhibited features of cholestatic hepatitis including elevated blood transaminases and direct-form predominant bilirubin levels after administration of cefepime. Blood liver tests showed total recovery after discontinuing the offending agent. Cefepime was probable to cause drug-induced cholestatic hepatitis in our patient since the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method score for cefepime was 7. No drug interactions were likely according to the Drug Interaction Probability Scale for this patient. No similar cases of cholestatic drug-induced liver injury related to cefepime have been reported previously. Hence, this rare condition requires a high degree of clinical suspicion for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

• Cefepime
• Cholestasis
• Drug-induced liver injury