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. 1988 Sep;29(9):1265–1269. doi: 10.1136/gut.29.9.1265

Peliosis hepatis induced by 6-thioguanine administration.

D Larrey 1, E Fréneaux 1, A Berson 1, G Babany 1, C Degott 1, D Valla 1, D Pessayre 1, J P Benhamou 1
PMCID: PMC1434359  PMID: 3198003

Abstract

A patient with acute myeloblastic leukaemia developed jaundice revealing peliosis hepatis after receiving 6-thioguanine for two months. Peliosis hepatis was severe and was associated with mild lesions of centrilobular veins. Withdrawal of 6-thioguanine was followed by a progressive improvement of liver dysfunction. This report shows that 6-thioguanine, a thiopurine already reported to be responsible for veno-occlusive disease of the liver, can induce peliosis hepatis. This suggests that some liver vascular disorders caused by thiopurines (6-thioguanine, azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine), particularly peliosis hepatis, veno-occlusive disease, sinusoidal dilatation and perisinusoidal fibrosis, might be related syndromes caused by similar lesions at different sites.

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Selected References

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