Chelidonium majus-Induced Acute Hepatitis / 이화의대지

ABSTRACT

The use of traditional folk remedies is increasing throughout Asia. Chelidonium majus, a popular herbal remedy, is used to treat abdominal pain caused by various gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric ulcer, gastritis, and biliary tract disease, because of its morphine-like effect. We encountered a 62-year-old woman with acute hepatitis, in which C. majus was suspected to be the etiological factor. The patient had taken high dose of C. majus extract for the preceding 60 days. The clinical context and the temporal association between the start of the herbal medicine treatment and her liver injury allowed us to attribute a causative role to C. majus. The diagnosis was confirmed by liver biopsy and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences/Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (CIOMS/RUCAM) scale. After C. majus was discontinued, the liver function was restored to normal. In conclusion, because the use of phytotherapy is increasing, we wish to raise awareness of the potential adverse effects of C. majus.