Danger of Herbal Tea: A Case of Acute Cholestatic Hepatitis Due to Artemisia annua Tea

Ruperti-Repilado, Francisco Javier; Haefliger, Simon; Rehm, Sophia; Zweier, Markus; Rentsch, Katharina M; Blum, Johannes; Jetter, Alexander; Heim, Markus; Leuppi-Taegtmeyer, Anne; Terracciano, Luigi; Bernsmeier, Christine

doi:10.5167/uzh-179351

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Ruperti-Repilado, F. J., Haefliger, S., Rehm, S., Zweier, M., Rentsch, K. M., Blum, J., Jetter, A., Heim, M., Leuppi-Taegtmeyer, A., Terracciano, L., & Bernsmeier, C. (2019). Danger of Herbal Tea: A Case of Acute Cholestatic Hepatitis Due to Artemisia annua Tea. Frontiers in Medicine, 6, 221. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00221

Abstract

Background:Artemisia annua is a Chinese medicinal herb. Artemisinin-derivatives are recommended as part of a combination treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) are increasingly used worldwide and HDS-induced liver injury is becoming a growing concern. Case Report: We present the first case of severe acute cholestatic hepatitis due to the intake of Artemisia annua tea as chemoprophylaxis for malaria in a patient returning from Ethiopia. The patients presented with jaundice, elevated transaminases, and