Was phytotherapy the cause of acute failure liver in a 64-year male?

Overview

Acute failure of the liver is a rare and exceptionally serious pathological state. It frequently affects healthy individuals and is most often fatal. In the present paper attention is drawn to a hitherto less noticed group of hepatotoxic substances – herbal products, which in view of their unrestricted availability and insufficient information among the lay as well as the professional public, present a potentially great health risk. Presented is a case report of a patient – an alternative medicine healer in whom fatal acute hepatic failure was most probably caused namely by herbal products.

Key words:
acute failure liver – venous occlusive liver disease – pyrolizidine alkaloids – herbal products – alternative medicine.