Brief Communication: Severe Hepatotoxicity of Telithromycin: Three Case Reports and Literature Review

  1. Kimberly D. Clay, MD, MPH;
  2. John S. Hanson, MD;
  3. Scott D. Pope, PharmD;
  4. Richard W. Rissmiller, MD;
  5. Preston P. Purdum III, MD; and
  6. Peter M. Banks, MD
  1. From Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Carolinas HealthCare System, and Carolinas Pathology Group, Charlotte, North Carolina.
    1. Figure 1. The liver is only about one third of the normal size (480 g) and consists predominantly of diffuse collapse. Islands of surviving intact lobular parenchyma consist of regenerative nodules ( ).
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      Figure 1. The liver is only about one third of the normal size (480 g) and consists predominantly of diffuse collapse. Islands of surviving intact lobular parenchyma consist of regenerative nodules ( ). Hepatic explant specimen from patient 2.arrows
    2. Figure 2. A conventional hematoxylin–eosin stain shows only rare islands of surviving regenerative lobular cellularity ( ). (Original magnification, ×5.) Reticulin silver staining demonstrates dense condensation of fibers surrounding persisting ducts without any intervening lobules, except in the regenerative nodule ( ). (Original magnification, × 5.) Immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin cocktail AE1/AE3 highlights the dense aggregates of ducts ( ) uninterrupted by lobular elements. (Original magnification, ×5.)
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      Figure 2. A conventional hematoxylin–eosin stain shows only rare islands of surviving regenerative lobular cellularity ( ). (Original magnification, ×5.) Reticulin silver staining demonstrates dense condensation of fibers surrounding persisting ducts without any intervening lobules, except in the regenerative nodule ( ). (Original magnification, × 5.) Immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin cocktail AE1/AE3 highlights the dense aggregates of ducts ( ) uninterrupted by lobular elements. (Original magnification, ×5.) Microscopic findings for patient 2.Left.arrowMiddle.arrowRight.arrows
    3. Figure 3. The figure shows total lobular necrosis, with pink hepatocytes lacking nuclei ( ). Portal triads are densely infiltrated by lymphoid cells. (Hematoxylin–eosin; original magnification, ×10).
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      Figure 3. The figure shows total lobular necrosis, with pink hepatocytes lacking nuclei ( ). Portal triads are densely infiltrated by lymphoid cells. (Hematoxylin–eosin; original magnification, ×10). Autopsy findings for patient 3.area within arrows

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