CHAPARRAL INGESTION - THE BROADENING SPECTRUM OF LIVER-INJURY CAUSED BY HERBAL MEDICATIONS

Unconventional medical practices, including the use of herbal remedies , are prevalent in the United States. Chaparral is an herbal preparati on made from a desert shrub and used for its antioxidant properties. W e report the case of a 60-year-old woman who took chaparral for 10 mon ths and developed severe hepatitis for which no other cause could be f ound. Despite aggressive supportive therapy, the patient deteriorated and required orthotopic liver transplantation. She is now well, more t han 1 year after her transplant. This case suggests that chaparral can cause serious liver injury and fulminant hepatic failure. Herbal medi cations should be considered as potential causes of liver toxicity.