Ciprofloxacin Exposure Leading to Fatal Hepatotoxicity: An Unusual Correlation

Abstract

Patient: Female, 74Final Diagnosis: Acute drug-induced liver failureSymptoms: Anorexia • fatigue • nausea • vomitingMedication: —Clinical Procedure: —Specialty: Gastroenterology and HepatologyObjective:Challenging differential diagnosisBackground:Ciprofloxacin is a commonly used fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It is occasionally associated with benign elevations in liver enzymes. Few reports in the literature correlate ciprofloxacin with significant liver injury. We present a fatal case of ciprofloxacin-induced liver failure.Case Report:A 74-year-old female was successfully treated with ciprofloxacin for a urinary tract infection (UTI), but immediately began having new-onset symptoms, including fatigue and nausea. This continued for two months, at which time she presented to the hospital; she was found to have elevated liver enzymes and another UTI. She was treated with ciprofloxacin again for UTI and discharged three days later, following mild improvement. One week later, she returned to another hospital and was found to have more significantly elevated liver function tests and jaundice. Extensive viral and autoimmune panels were unremarkable. Liver biopsy showed cholestatic hepatitis of unclear etiology. The patient was discharged again following a mild decline in liver enzymes. Soon after, the patient was admitted to our institution with similar complaints. Serum transaminases remained elevated, with an increase in alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences/the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (CIOMS/RUCAM) scale was found to be 8, outlining a high or definite probability that the ciprofloxacin was the cause of the patient’s hepatotoxicity. A one-week course of prednisone for possible hypersensitivity reaction was tried; however, it proved unsuccessful. Palliative care was consulted, and the patient passed away shortly thereafter.Conclusions:This case demonstrates the potential for liver failure from ciprofloxacin. Clinicians should evaluate the possibility of ciprofloxacin-induced hepatotoxicity in a patient presenting with liver injury of unknown etiology. Similarly, it is important to consider this significant effect when a practitioner considers antibiotic choice.

Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Modified Electrodes for Sensitive Detection of Ciprofloxacin

“…Particularly, the uncontrolled uses of this class of medication can lead to allergic symptoms as well as antibiotic resistance . In addition, hepatotoxicity and haematuria are the severe consequences observed during medical therapies with this drug. Moreover, it has been proved that this antibacterial compound is genotoxic .…”

Ciprofloxacin-induced Hepatotoxicity in a Healthy Young Adult

“…Fluoroquinolone-induced hepatitis is usually nonfatal and is self-resolving after drug discontinuation and symptomatic treatment. Only four previous reports of ciprofloxacin-induced liver injury, including that of our patient's case, have been reported in the literature [ 9 ]. There has been at least one fatality reported with the ciprofloxacin-induced liver injury in a 74-year-old woman undergoing treatment for UTI.…”

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: safety of use by the example of ciprofloxacin

“…Ранее подобные случаи уже отмечались в литературе. Протекающее бессимптомно повышение уровня печеночных трансаминаз обнаруживалось у 2-3 % пациентов [12,38], а в редких случаях введение ципрофлоксацина вызывало острое повреждение печени, в том числе с летальным исходом [38,39]. Точный механизм острого гепатита, индуцированного ципрофлоксацином, в настоящее время остается неизвестным; наблюдаемый при этом некроз гепатоцитов приводит к повышению уровня ферментов печени.…”