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Symptomatic Hepatitis Associated with the Use of Herbal Red Yeast Rice
- Harry Roselle, MD;
- Andrew Ekatan, MD;
- Jausheng Tzeng, MD;
- Mark Sapienza, MD; and
- Jeffrey Kocher, MD
- From Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, Englewood, NJ 07631.
Background: Red yeast rice is a dietary supplement that contains 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors and is used for over-the-counter self-treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Objective: To report a case of severe hepatitis associated with use of red yeast rice.
Case Report: A 62-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department of our institution with a 10-week history of flu-like symptoms followed by 1 week of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and daily fever (temperature, 102 °F). She did not report history of liver disease, blood transfusion, contact with ill persons, or recent travel. She had a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and depression. Her medications included montelukast sodium and fluoxetine, and she took two 600-mg red yeast rice capsules twice a day for approximately 4 months before admission (Prescription Alternatives, Frisco, Colorado).
Her vital signs were normal except for a temperature of 100.8 °F. Results …
