Drug Induced Liver Injury by Prophylactic Administration of Albendazole

Abstract

Albendazole is used as a typical antiparasitic agent worldwide. The side effects of albendazole may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, alopecia, and increased liver enzymes. Mild elevation of the liver enzyme has been reported in more than 10% of cases, but drug induced liver injury was reported to be very rare. A 30-year-old woman visited the Dong-A University Hospital with anorexia, nausea, jaundice, and elevated liver enzyme. For diagnosis, other acute hepatitis etiologies were excluded, but the prophylactic administration of albendazole was verified. This paper introduces a case of drug-induced liver injury through the prophylactic administration of albendazole. Physicians should be aware of severe liver injury as one of the side effects of albendazole.