Anti-Dementia Drugs and Hepatotoxicity–Report of Two Cases

Haruka Hirono; Kazuhiko Watanabe; Katsuhiko Hasegawa; Kazuhiko Hiroyasu; Koichi Shibasaki; Shogo Ohkoshi

International Journal of Gerontology (Sep 2018)

Anti-Dementia Drugs and Hepatotoxicity–Report of Two Cases

Haruka Hirono,
Kazuhiko Watanabe,
Katsuhiko Hasegawa,
Kazuhiko Hiroyasu,
Koichi Shibasaki,
Shogo Ohkoshi

Affiliations

Haruka Hirono: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Life Dentistry at NIigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan
Kazuhiko Watanabe: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Life Dentistry at NIigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan
Katsuhiko Hasegawa: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Life Dentistry at NIigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan
Kazuhiko Hiroyasu: Oral Implant Care Unit, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan
Koichi Shibasaki: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Life Dentistry at NIigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan
Shogo Ohkoshi: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Life Dentistry at NIigata, The Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 3
pp. 261 – 263

Abstract

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Summary: Two patients with Alzheimer's disease who developed hepatitis caused by anti-dementia drugs are presented. Case 1: An 84-year-old-woman was referred to our hospital with profound jaundice. The levels of liver enzymes and jaundice decreased after the cessation of memantine and yokukansan (herbal medicine approved for dementia in Japan). Case 2: An 82-year-old-man was referred because of elevated transaminases. Liver biopsy showed central necrosis typical for drug-induced liver injury. The levels of transaminases decreased after withdrawal of rivastigmine transdermal patch treatment. Anti-dementia drugs have been safely used in terms of hepatotoxicity. However, some cases might be missed because of the difficulty in recognizing signs and symptoms in elderly and dementia patients. Keywords: drug-induced liver injury, alzheimer's disease, anti-dementia drugs, elderly

Published in International Journal of Gerontology

ISSN: 1873-9598 (Print)
Publisher: Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM)
Country of publisher: Taiwan, Province of China
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Special situations and conditions: Geriatrics
Website: http://www.sgecm.org.tw/ijge/overview/

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