Ecstasy ingestion and fulminant hepatic failure: liver transplantation to be considered as a last therapeutic option.

Severe adverse effects due to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) are reported with increasing frequency in the medical literature. The signs of acute toxicity most often seen are fulminant hyperthermia, hyperexcitatory states, acute renal failure and hyponatraemia. In 1992, hepatotoxicity was also described with unexplained jaundice and hepatomegaly after ingestion of MDMA. We report a case of severe toxic hepatitis following ingestion of MDMA with fulminant hepatic failure which required auxiliary liver transplantation. The diagnosis was necrotic toxic hepatitis following ecstasy ingestion. The outcome was successful, and the patient was discharged from ICU 20 d after surgery. Hepatotoxic effects of MDMA seem infrequent, but may be lethal; liver transplantation is the ultimate therapeutic option in some cases.