Agomelatine-induced liver injury in a patient with choledocholithiasis.

OBJECTIVE

A case of agomelatine-induced hepatotoxicity is described in a 47-year female patient who has received the drug, 25 mg/day, for 4 months, for the treatment of depression.

METHODS

The patient was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology because of fatigue and nausea, with concomitant elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 550 U/L, and asparagine aminotransferase (AST), 300 U/L.

RESULTS

Liver biopsy showed diffuse lymphocyte infiltration in the dilated portal spaces without lesion of hepatic lobules. Several weeks after stopping agomelatine, the liver enzymes returned to normal. Subsequently, small gallstones in common bile duct were detected and removed by the endoscopic sphincterotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

It is hypothesized that choledocholithiasis could theoretically increase a risk of developing agomelatine-induced hepatotoxicity in this patient. Any pre-existing liver disease should be a contraindication for treatment with agomelatine.