Drug-induced liver injury secondary to tamoxifen

Abstract

Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal selective oestrogen receptor modulator commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. It is associated with the development of fatty liver and steatohepatitis however drug-induced liver injury is rare. We report a woman in her 50s who developed malaise with an acute moderate aminotransferase elevation without jaundice 6 months after starting tamoxifen. She was not commenced on any other recent drugs and extensive investigation including infective and autoimmune liver screen, cross-sectional imaging and FibroScan were unremarkable. Liver biopsy revealed moderate lobular hepatitis with hepatocyte drop-out. Tamoxifen was ceased and the liver enzymes showed resolution over the following 3 months and improvement of her symptoms.