Cholestatic jaundice associated with the use of metformin

DJ Desilets, AF Shorr, KA Moran… - Official journal of the …, 2001 - journals.lww.com
DJ Desilets, AF Shorr, KA Moran, KC Holtzmuller
Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG, 2001journals.lww.com
We report a patient who developed cholestatic jaundice shortly after initiation of treatment
with metformin hydrochloride. Ultrasound of the liver and abdominal CT were normal. An
ERCP showed normal biliary anatomy. A percutaneous liver biopsy was obtained showing
marked cholestasis, with portal edema, ductular proliferation, and acute inflammation.
Metformin hydrochloride was discontinued, and the patient's jaundice resolved slowly over a
period of several months. Given the onset of his jaundice 2 wk after the initiation of …
Abstract
We report a patient who developed cholestatic jaundice shortly after initiation of treatment with metformin hydrochloride. Ultrasound of the liver and abdominal CT were normal. An ERCP showed normal biliary anatomy. A percutaneous liver biopsy was obtained showing marked cholestasis, with portal edema, ductular proliferation, and acute inflammation. Metformin hydrochloride was discontinued, and the patient's jaundice resolved slowly over a period of several months. Given the onset of his jaundice 2 wk after the initiation of metformin, we believe that this case represents an example of metformin-associated hepatotoxicity, the first such case reported.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins