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Article
November 1985

Propylthiouracil-Associated Hepatitis

Author Affiliations

Cincinnati

Arch Intern Med. 1985;145(11):2129-2130. doi:10.1001/archinte.1985.00360110205048
Abstract

To the Editor.  —We read with interest the article by Hanson1 in the May 1984 Archives wherein he reviewed the literature on hepatitis associated with propylthiouracil. We concur that propylthiouracil-induced hepatitis is a difficult diagnosis to establish and agree with the practical diagnostic criteria that he proposed. We believe we recently encountered the first male child with propylthiouracil-associated hepatitis. This would tend to suggest that the higher incidence of propylthiouracil-induced reactions among female patients merely reflects the predominance of female patients being treated medically for hyperthyroidism.

Report of a Case.  —Our patient was a 12-year-old boy who presented with a three- to four-week history of symptoms of hyperthyroidism and unilateral mild exophthalmos. Physical examination confirmed the presence of moderate toxicity. His thyroid gland felt smooth and was diffusely enlarged, measuring 3 × 2 cm in each lobe. A bruit was audible over the gland. Laboratory data revealed a serum

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