Severe hepatoxicity caused by aspirin overdose: a case report

Abstract

We report here the rare case of a 61-year-old man with multiple organ dysfunction caused by an aspirin overdose (4 g orally). The patient presented with a fever that reached 39.2 °C, a peptic ulcer, and massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. His blood test results were as follows: white blood cell count, 1.8×10⁹/L; absolute lymphocytes, 0.4×10⁹/L; absolute neutrophils, 1.2×10⁹/L; and electrolyte disturbances. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed evidence of bilateral inferior pulmonary infection and acute pancreatitis. Thick dark bile with visible floccule was drawn via a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD). Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in microbiological bile tests. Two years later, the patient died of chronic liver failure.

Keywords

aspirin / side effects / liver failure

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Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg