Abstract:

Acute liver failure is a critical condition due to severe hepatic impairment in a person who does not have a history of liver disease. We present a 27–year–old woman with a two–week history of weakness, fatigue, jaundice and pruritus, as well as nausea and vomiting. The patient decided to try bioresonance diagnostic and alternative holistic medicine to rid her body of toxins and parasites. She started taking for 1 month 9 products containing about 40 herbal and medicinal ingredients. Around 40 days after the start of this therapy the patient was transferred to our unit due to the prolonged high levels in liver enzymes. Upon admission she has low hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, high CRP, liver enzymes, bilirubin, platelets, disturbed coagulation. All viral and immunological markers were negative.
We assume that in the presented case the main cause for liver disease and cholestasis is herbal (HILI) and / or drug–induced liver damage (DILI). There is no definitely a clear answer how these ingredients damaged the hepatic function. The cause of hepatotoxicity is thought to be due to a genetic polymorphism in the cytochrome P 450 enzymes or in the immune response, a synergistic effect on multiple supplements. The probable mechanism for cholestasis involves compromised activity of Bile acids transporters.
The simultaneous administration of so many substances confuses the detoxifying function of the liver, which can be expected. The natural origin of herbs does not deprive them of chemical structure and interactions.