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The Broadening Spectrum of Liver Injury Caused by Herbal Medications

Dafna W. Gordon, MD; Gayle Rosenthal, MD; John Hart, MD; Ronald Sirota, MD; Alfred L. Baker, MD

JAMA. 1995;273(6):489-490.

Abstract
Unconventional medical practices, including the use of herbal remedies, are prevalent in the United States. Chaparral is an herbal preparation made from a desert shrub and used for its antioxidant properties. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman who took chaparral for 10 months and developed severe hepatitis for which no other cause could be found. Despite aggressive supportive therapy, the patient deteriorated and required orthotopic liver transplantation. She is now well, more than 1 year after her transplant. This case suggests that chaparral can cause serious liver injury and fulminant hepatic failure. Herbal medications should be considered as potential causes of liver toxicity.

(JAMA. 1995;273:489-490)

Author Affiliations
From the Liver Study Unit, Department of Medicine (Drs Gordon and Baker), and the Department of Pathology (Dr Hart), University of Chicago (Ill) Hospitals, and the Departments of Medicine (Dr Rosenthal) and Pathology (Dr Sirota), West Suburban Hospital, Oak Park, Ill.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to University of Chicago Hospitals, MC4076, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 (Dr Baker).

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