Ceftazidime induced liver injury. Issue 12 (9th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Tayyab; Joslyn, James A; Lai, James
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 14:Issue 12(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-09
• Subjects: unwanted effects / adverse reactions -- gastrointestinal system; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-246571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : A 65-year-old woman with type II diabetes mellitus complicated by non-healing ulcers with recurrent osteomyelitis was admitted for progression of cellulitis after treatment failure with an outpatient course of amoxicillin-clavulanate. She was found to have persistent osteomyelitis and started on ceftazidime for a culture documented Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. After two parenteral doses, she had a rapid rise in liver function tests (LFTs) in a hepatocellular pattern. Due to rapid identification, all medications with potential hepatotoxicity, including ceftazidime, were discontinued and the LFTs promptly returned to baseline over 3 days. Of note, the patient did not experience any symptoms of liver injury. Other causes of acute liver injury were effectively ruled out, but the case was confounded by usage of other potential hepatotoxic medications. Still, the most likely culprit was ceftazidime, a rare cause of drug induced liver injury with very few reports in the literature.