Vitamin A Toxicity: When One a Day Doesn't Keep the Doctor Away

    January 2006 in “ Liver transplantation
    Rekha Cheruvattath, Mauricio Orrego, Mamta Gautam, Thomas Byrne, Shayan Alam, Marina Voltchenok, Mark Edwin, James A. Wilkens, James W. Williams, Hugo E. Vargas
    TLDR Vitamin A toxicity can cause severe health issues and may require a liver transplant if other treatments fail.
    The document reported a case of a 60-year-old man who developed severe liver injury due to subacute vitamin A toxicity, leading to liver transplantation. The patient had been consuming excessive amounts of vitamin A, far exceeding the recommended daily value, which resulted in symptoms such as muscle soreness, hair loss, skin rash, and nail dystrophy. Despite discontinuing the supplements, his condition worsened, leading to refractory ascites, severe encephalopathy, and renal failure. A liver biopsy revealed significant liver damage compatible with hypervitaminosis A. The patient underwent a successful liver transplant and made a remarkable recovery. This case highlighted the potential severity of vitamin A toxicity and suggested that liver transplantation could be a viable option when hepatic decompensation occurs despite stopping the toxic medication.
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