Cholestatic liver injury secondary to over-the-counter cyproheptadine: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Background

Cyproheptadine is an easily available over-the-counter first-generation antihistaminic that is often used as an appetite stimulant. Although it is usually a safe drug, rare instances of drug-induced liver injury may occur.

Case presentation

We report a case of cholestatic liver injury secondary to cyproheptadine in a young pharmacy student with chronic hepatitis B and review the literature of cyproheptadine-induced liver injury.

Conclusion

Although cyproheptadine is largely a safe drug, its potential for significant liver toxicity cannot be ignored.

Background

Cyproheptadine is a first-generation antihistaminic drug initially introduced as an antipruritic agent which has gained much popularity because of its orexigenic and appetite-stimulating effects [1]. Easy over-the-counter availability makes it an alluring agent among adolescents and young adults concerned about their body image. Although it is generally considered a safe drug, rare instances of liver injury may occur [2]. We present a case of a young male with cholestatic liver injury secondary to cyproheptadine and review the associated literature.

Case report

A 20-year-old male pharmacy student presented to the liver clinic of a teaching hospital in northern India with a history of progressive jaundice of 1-month duration which was associated with pruritus and clay-colored stools. There was no history of prodrome, pain, fever, abdominal distension, or gastrointestinal bleeding. He was a teetotaler with no history of drug abuse or unsafe sexual practices. At the index presentation to the primary physician, he was diagnosed with Hepatitis B (details of liver function and viral workup were not available), for which he was started on tenofovir. He was subsequently referred to us for consultation in view of worsening jaundice 3 weeks later. The patient admitted to over-the-counter use of cyproheptadine (20 mg per day) to gain weight for a period of 3 months, which he stopped on noticing yellowish discoloration of urine. On physical examination, there was icterus, scratch marks over the trunk and extremities, shiny nails, and a firm hepatomegaly with a liver span of around 16 cm. Investigations revealed that hemogram and other routine biochemical parameters were normal except for deranged liver function tests (total bilirubin, 15.3 mg/dL; direct bilirubin, 9.6 mg/dL; AST, 66 IU/L; ALT, 82 IU/L; ALP, 346 IU/L; GGT, 180 U/L). Virological workup showed HBV-DNA of 4.8 × 10⁴ IU/mL with positive HBeAg antigen and negative IgM anti-HBc antibody. Serologies for Hepatitis A, C, and E, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and autoimmune workup (including anti-mitochondrial antibody) were negative. Serum ceruloplasmin levels were normal (32 mg/dL). Ultrasound abdomen and MRCP corroborated hepatomegaly and did not reveal any biliary pathology. As the clinical presentation and biochemical profile of the patient were not explainable by Hepatitis B alone, a liver biopsy was performed keeping a possibility of cholestatic drug-induced liver injury secondary to cyproheptadine with an R score of 0.7.

The biopsy revealed mild portal and occasional portoseptal fibrosis with variable degrees (mild to moderate) of inflammation comprising of lymphocytes, a few plasma cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils (Fig. 1). No interface activity was noted. Occasional interlobular bile ducts showed degenerative cholangiocyte changes. A mild ductular reaction was noted (Fig. 2). The hepatic lobules showed centrizonal cholestasis along with lobular disarray and feathery degeneration (Fig. 3). CK7 immunostain highlighted occasional biliary metaplasia. Multiple foci of lobular inflammation (4–10/10 × field) were seen. The hepatocytes also showed occasional HBcAg nuclear positivity (Fig. 4). The overall histopathological pattern suggests a chronic hepatitis pattern, likely resulting from chronic hepatitis B (modified HAI score 0 + 0 + 3 + 2 = 5/18; fibrosis stage 2) with superimposed centrizonal cholestasis, occasional degenerative changes in the ductal cholangiocytes, and portal eosinophilic sprinkling, likely related to a cholestatic-drug induced liver injury (cholestatic-DILI). Thus, the final diagnosis was consistent with cyproheptadine-induced cholestatic liver injury on a background of chronic Hepatitis B.

Fig. 1

Occasional portal tracts show fibrotic expansion and incomplete septa

Fig. 2

Hepatic lobules showing centrizonal cholestasis and feathery degeneration

Fig. 3

Occasional interlobular bile ducts showing degenerative changes in the cholangiocytes and ductular reaction

Fig. 4

Occasional HBcAg nuclear positivity in the hepatocytes

He was managed conservatively with ursodeoxycholic acid, cholestyramine, and naltrexone. Gradually, his pruritus and jaundice improved with normalization of liver function parameters at 8 weeks of follow up.

Discussion

Cyproheptadine is considered to be a safe drug with mild neurological manifestations such as sedation being the most frequently reported adverse effects. However, drug-induced liver injury manifesting as mixed or cholestatic hepatitis may rarely occur with an estimated frequency of 0.27–1.4 per 1000 patients [3]. Clues to the mechanism of hepatotoxicity of cyproheptadine can be gleaned from an analysis of its chemical structure. The tricyclic ring structure of cyproheptadine is analogous to phenothiazines like the antipsychotic chlorpromazine, the hepatotoxic potential of which is well known [3]. Decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation has also been speculated as a potential mechanism due to the presence of a tertiary amine. Studies in rats suggest that cyproheptadine can induce an ultrastructural change in hepatocytes with an increase in microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme [4].

Clinical data on drug-induced liver injury secondary to cyproheptadine is scant and is largely confined to case reports and series as shown in Table 1. The largest series comes from a French national pharmacovigilance database study from 1985 to 2020 which recorded a total of 15 cases of liver injury suspected to be secondary to cyproheptadine including three patients with cholestatic hepatitis [1]. Three other patients have also been published in case reports. Importantly the French national pharmacovigilance study reported acute liver failure in four patients. Thus it becomes necessary to be aware and vigilant about the potential hepatic adverse effects of this seemingly safe drug which is readily available over the counter in India. This would be particularly prudent in a patient with pre-existing liver disease as in our pharmacy student with chronic Hepatitis B.

Table 1 Review of literature depicting case reports and series of cyproheptadine-induced liver injury

Fortunately, most cases in the literature resolve with conservative management after withdrawal of cyproheptadine within 1–3 weeks. However, cholestatic hepatitis may take longer to resolve (as seen in the index case) with a reported duration of 3 to 32 weeks.

Conclusion

Although cyproheptadine is largely a safe drug, its potential for significant liver toxicity cannot be overlooked. Clinicians should be cognizant of this while prescribing cyproheptadine particularly in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease.