Reactions 1308 - 3 Jul 2010

SCitalopram

Hepatotoxicity in an elderly patient: case reportAn 83-year-old woman developed hepatotoxicity during

citalopram therapy for depression.The woman was hospitalised for transient loss of

consciousness after a fall. She had started receivingcitalopram 10 mg/day 4 weeks earlier for depression;7 days prior to admission, the dosage had been increasedto 20 mg/day. Her other medications included carbasalatecalcium, carbamazepine, levetiracetam, calcium carbonateand alendronic acid. On admission, her liver was slightlyenlarged. Laboratory tests revealed significantly elevatedliver enzyme levels and decreased Factor V activity.Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated a small haemangiomain the left lobe of the liver. Liver biopsy showed signs ofacute and long-standing hepatocyte damage due to drug-induced and/or toxic injury.

All medications were stopped, except for levetiracetam,and within a couple of days, the woman’s liver enzymelevels rapidly recovered. She was discharged a few dayslater. Her other medications were re-introduced one at atime, but citalopram was not restarted. Her liver enzymelevels remained normal after 1 year follow-up.Hunfeld NGM, et al. Hepatotoxicity related to citalopram intake: A case report.International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine 22: 1-5, No. 1, 2010.Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/jrs-2010-0486 -Netherlands 803023418

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Reactions 3 Jul 2010 No. 13080114-9954/10/1308-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved