Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (Jun 2015)

Liver dysfunction induced by systemic hypersensitivity reaction to lamotrigine: case report

  • Sung Gyu Im,
  • Sun Hong Yoo,
  • Young Min Park,
  • Sang Jin Lee,
  • Sun Kyung Jang,
  • Dong Ok Jeon,
  • Hyo Jin Cho,
  • Mi Jung Oh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2015.21.2.180
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 2
pp. 180 – 182

Abstract

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Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat partial and generalized seizure disorders. Hypersensitivity to lamotrigine usually causes mild symptoms such as fever, rash, and slight invasion of internal organs. However, a 33-year-old male patient who was admitted with Stevens-Johnson syndrome after taking lamotrigine for 15 days experienced hepatic failure and died 5 days after admission. This case demonstrates the importance of realizing that lamotrigine can lead to fatal hepatic failure, and that tests for the normal liver function should be performed when administering lamotrigine.

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