A case of chronic liver disease due to tolazamide

Abstract

Although chlorpropamide and tolbutamide are well recognized as causes of hepatotoxicity, there are only 3 reported cases of hepatic injury caused by a third oral hypoglycemic agent, tolazamide. In 2 of these cases, the liver-function tests returned to normal when the drug was discontinued. In the third case, the patient had cholestasis from chlorpropamide before administration of tolazamide and developed chronic liver disease. We are reporting the second instance of chronic liver disease induced by tolazamide. Our patient had been taking chlorpropamide, but she had no evidence of liver disease before administration of tolazamide. Tolazamide should be considered as a drug capable of producing hepatotoxicity that on occasion may be chronic.