Propafenone-induced liver injury in an elderly patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation--a new case report and literature review

Abstract

Antiarrhythmic drugs are used more and more often, which is related to the aging of the population and the growing number of arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF). One of the drugs used in AF is propafenone, considered a relatively safe drug in people without heart disease. Nevertheless, it can cause severe damage to the liver if one ignores the subtle symptoms that indicate an incipient problem. We present the case of an 82-year-old woman diagnosed with paroxysmal AF who developed acute liver injury during treatment with propafenone. On the fifth day of her hospitalization, we observed nausea and vomiting after introducing regular treatment with propafenone. Similar symptoms occurred before hospitalization when propafenone was taken ad hoc in the event of an AF attack. They were treated as dyspeptics in a patient who underwent cholecystectomy. Laboratory tests showed high serum alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, C-reactive protein, total bilirubin, and a slight increase in aspartate transaminase. Infection with hepatic viruses, alcohol abuse, other drugs toxicity, and intrahepatic cholangitis due to cholelithiasis were excluded as a cause of liver damage. With the discontinuation of propafenone, the patient's clinical condition and laboratory test results improved. Similar cases published in the literature are discussed in the paper. It also draws attention to the need to report adverse drug reactions to the appropriate authorities and discusses the reasons for under-reporting in Poland.