Certolizumab-induced liver injury: as assessed for causality by the updated RUCAM

Abstract

We report a case of a woman in her 30s with a history of cholecystectomy, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate and certolizumab who presented with epigastric pain radiating to the right upper quadrant. Laboratory findings revealed significantly elevated liver enzymes consistent with hepatocellular liver injury. The hepatocellular pattern of liver injury, negative autoimmune serologies and improvement on cessation of certolizumab were consistent with drug-induced hepatotoxicity. We used Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method to assess the likelihood of drug-induced liver injury that showed a score of 7, this was in line with a probable causality grading. Although the patient had a history of methotrexate use, the onset of symptoms and transaminitis coincided with the recent initiation of certolizumab, which was the trigger of hepatocellular injury. Liver enzymes also remained normal after the reinitiation of methotrexate on follow-up.