Korean J Hepatol.  2001 Jun;7(2):213-215.

A Case of Theophylline-Induced Hepatitis

• Rhim DW
• Baik SK
• Park YS
• Park HC
• Seo JI
• Kim HS
• Lee WY
• Yong SJ
• Sin KC
• Lee DK
• Kwon SO
• Kim TH
• Cho MY

Abstract

Theophylline has been widely used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. To date, there have been very few reports on hepatotoxicity due to theophylline. We diagnosed, through biochemical testing and a liver biopsy, a case of acute cholestatic hepatitis developed after oral consumption of theophylline. A 43 year-old man was admitted to the department of internal medicine due to jaundice and pruritus which developed after ten days administration of oral theophylline (Etheophyl ). Liver function tests showed elevated serum bilirubin at 13.2 mg/dL with AST and ALT of 71 U/L and 194 U/L. Alkaline phosphatase and gamma-GTP were also elevated at 175 U/L and 301 U/L. There was no evidence of viral or autoimmune hepatitis in laboratory tests. The patient's symptoms and liver function tests were improved after conservative treatment. After 9 months oral theophylline was readministered for the control of relapsed asthma. Then, jaundice and pruritus again developed again. A liver biopsy showed a few lymphocytes and eosinophilic inflammatory cell infiltration in portal tract and cholestasis in the lobule. Drug-induced hepatitis was diagnosed with a typical clinical course; the exclusion of all possible causes of acute hepatic dysfunction; and a positive response to accidental readministration of drug. We report this case with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Hepatitis/Drug-induced; Theophylline

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alkaline Phosphatase
Asthma
Bilirubin
Biopsy
Cholestasis
Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Eosinophils
Hepatitis*
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Humans
Internal Medicine
Jaundice
Liver
Liver Function Tests
Lymphocytes
Pruritus
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Theophylline
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin
Theophylline