Zoledronic acid-induced hepatotoxicity relieved after subsequent infusions in a Chinese woman with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

BACKGROUND: Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is widely used for treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The most common adverse effects of ZOL treatment are post-dose symptoms. ZOL-induced hepatotoxicity has very rarely been reported. CASE REPORT: Here, we described a 50-year-old Chinese woman who had vertebral fractures and severe back pain after glucocorticoid therapy for Behcet disease for 13 years. Three days after ZOL 5 mg infusion in April 2012, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels increased by 7.7, 4.9 and 3.0 times, respectively, compared with pre-treatment values. Liver protective agents were administered per os. Her hepatic enzyme levels returned to nearly normal range 9 days post-infusion. In the subsequent ZOL infusion with 1 year interval, serum ALT, AST and GGT levels increased slightly after the second infusion and were sustained to be normal after the third infusion. Her post-dose symptoms alleviated in the meantime. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatotoxicity due to ZOL therapy is a rare, but possible adverse effect which may be relieved after subsequent infusions.