Yonsei Med J.  1996 Jun;37(3):225-229. 10.3349/ymj.1996.37.3.225.

A case of flutamide-induced acute cholestatic hepatitis: a case report

• Lee HW
• Chung JP
• Lee KS
• Kim KC
• Lee KS
• Chon CY
• Park IS
• Kim HG

• KMID: 699896
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1996.37.3.225

Abstract

Flutamide, an oral nonsteroidal, antiandrogenic, anilid compound which inhibits the uptake and binding of androgens to nuclear receptors in the prostate, is used with or without LH-RH analogues for treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Clinically significant hepatotoxicities such as toxic hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, hepatic failure, and even death have rarely been reported in the English literature, but no case has been reported in Korea. A 75-year-old man with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate had taken flutamide (750 mg/day) for 7 months and suddenly developed jaundice and general weakness. The findings of blood chemistries were compatible with cholestatic hepatitis, but ultrasonography, viral marker and auto-antibody studies did not reveal any attributable causes. Histologic examination of a sono-guided liver biopsy only disclosed centrilobular cholestasis, nuclear glycogenosis and mild sinusoidal lymphocytic infiltration. Discontinuation of flutamide resulted in an almost full recovery of the patient's liver function in 2 months. We, herein, report a case of flutamide-induced acute choestatic hepatitis with a brief review of the literature.

Keyword

Flutamide; cholestatic hepatitis; prostatic cancer

MeSH Terms

Acute Disease
Aged
Androgen Antagonists/*adverse effects
Case Report
Cholestasis/*chemically induced
Flutamide/*adverse effects
Hepatitis, Toxic/*etiology
Human
Male