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BRIEF COMMUNICATION

Fatal Hepatorenal Failure Associated with Hydrazine Sulfate

Mark I. Hainer, DO; Naoky Tsai, MD; Steven T. Komura, MD; and Charles L. Chiu, PharmD

5 December 2000 | Volume 133 Issue 11 | Pages 877-880

Background: The Internet has revolutionized the manner in which patients obtain information about health care. This technology has also allowed patients to obtain directly both prescription and nonprescription therapies.

Objective: To report a case of fulminant hepatorenal failure associated with the use of hydrazine sulfate, an unregulated alternative remedy for cancer marketed on the Internet.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Patient: A 55-year-old man with maxillary sinus cancer.

Intervention: Self-medication with hydrazine sulfate.

Measurements: Serum liver and renal function tests; histologic evaluation of liver and kidney tissue.

Results: The patient developed hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure, and profound coagulopathy. He died after severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage developed. Autopsy revealed autolysis of the kidneys and submassive bridging necrosis of the liver.

Conclusion: Fatal hepatorenal failure may occur after the use of hydrazine sulfate. This fatal complication must be considered in anyone taking or contemplating the use of hydrazine sulfate.

Author and Article Information

From Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and the John A. Burns School of Medicine and St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Disclaimer: The materials presented herein are solely the views of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army or the U.S. Department of Defense.

Acknowledgment: The authors thank S.Y. Tan, MD, for his advice and critical review of the manuscript.

Requests for Single Reprints: Mark I. Hainer, DO, Department of Internal Medicine, Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Fort Jackson, SC 29207; e-mail, mark.hainer{at}se.amedd.army.mil.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Hainer: Department of Internal Medicine, Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Fort Jackson, SC 29207.

Dr. Tsai: Liver Center at St. Francis Medical Center, 222B Liliha Street, #306, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Dr. Komura: Department of Pathology, St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Dr. Chiu: Department of Pharmacy, St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Author Contributions: Conception and design: M.I. Hainer, N. Tsai, S.T. Komura, C.L. Chiu.

Analysis and interpretation of the data: M.I. Hainer, N. Tsai, S.T. Komura, C.L. Chiu.

Drafting of the article: M.I. Hainer.

Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: M.I. Hainer, N. Tsai, S.T. Komura.

Final approval of the article: M.I. Hainer, N. Tsai, S.T. Komura.

Provision of study materials or patients: N. Tsai, S.T. Komura.

Administrative, technical, or logistic support: C.L. Chiu.

Collection and assembly of data: M.I. Hainer, S.T. Komura.

Related articles in Annals:

Editorials
Hydrazine, Cancer, the Internet, Isoniazid, and the Liver
Martin Black AND Hamid Hussain

Annals 2000 133: 911-913. [Full Text]  

Summaries for Patients
Liver and Kidney Failure in a Patient Who Used Hydrazine Sulfate as an Alternative Treatment for Cancer

Annals 2000 133: S58. [Full Text]  

Letters
Hydrazine and Isoniazid
Peter W. Blue

Annals 2001 135: 927. [Full Text]  

Letters
Inflation of Precision in Medical Reports
Glen L. Hortin

Annals 2001 135: 549. [Full Text]  

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