Korean J Gastroenterol.  2014 Jul;64(1):54-58. 10.4166/kjg.2014.64.1.54.

Acute Toxic Hepatitis Caused by an Aloe Vera Preparation in a Young Patient: A Case Report with a Literature Review

• Lee J
• Lee MS
• Nam KW

• KMID: 1791896
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2014.64.1.54

Abstract

Aloe is one of the leading products used in phytomedicine. Several cases of aloe-induced toxic hepatitis have been reported in recent years. However, its toxicology has not yet been systematically described in the literature. A 21-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with acute hepatitis after taking an aloe vera preparation for four weeks. Her history, clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and histological findings all led to the diagnosis of aloe vera-induced toxic hepatitis. We report herein on a case of acute toxic hepatitis induced by aloe vera.

Keyword

Hepatitis; Aloe; Health food

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Alanine Transaminase/blood
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood
Aloe/*chemistry/metabolism
Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology
Female
Humans
Liver/pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Plant Extracts/*adverse effects/*chemistry
Splenomegaly/diagnosis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Young Adult
Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Plant Extracts

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. The container bottle and gel of the aloe vera preparation that the patient had taken.

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  Fig. 2. (A) Microphotograph of a gun biopsy specimen of the liver (H&E, ×200). (B) Higher magnification showed mixed infiltration of inflammatory cells at the portal and lobular spaces with neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils (H&E, ×400).

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  Fig. 3. (A) Upon discontinuation of the intake of aloe vera, the liver enzymes returned to their normal level. (B) Upon discontinuation of the intake of aloe vera, the white blood cell and platelet counts returned to their normal levels. TB, total bilirubin; WBC, white blood cell.

Reference

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