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Liver failure due to antithyroid drugs: report of a case and literature review

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Abstract

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder affecting 2% of females and 0.5% of males worldwide and antithyroid drugs constitute the first line of treatment in the majority of cases. These agents may cause severe adverse effects and among them liver failure, although rare, is a potential lethal one. This case illustrates the sudden and abrupt deterioration of hepatic function due to antithyroid drug administration. This case along with a concise literature review is presented aiming to increase the awareness of endocrinologists of possible fatal complications from the everyday use of common agents such as antithyroid drugs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Section, First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Sarantis Livadas, Xenofon Xyrafis, Frangiskos Economou, Georgios Boutzios, Maria Christou, Aristea Zerva, Athanasios Karachalios, Helen Palioura, Sotiria Palimeri & Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis

  2. University of Athens Medical School, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi 115-27, Athens, Greece

    Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis

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  1. Sarantis Livadas
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  2. Xenofon Xyrafis
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Correspondence to Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis.

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Livadas, S., Xyrafis, X., Economou, F. et al. Liver failure due to antithyroid drugs: report of a case and literature review. Endocr 38, 24–28 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9348-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9348-y

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