Interaction of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) with cyclosporin A metabolism in a patient after liver transplantation

J Hepatol. 2000 Nov;33(5):853-5. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80321-9.

Abstract

Immunosuppressive therapy in patients after liver transplantation requires careful monitoring of blood levels for immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin A. A variety of drugs are capable of interfering with the metabolism of cyclosporin A. We observed a 63-year-old patient who received a liver allograft for cryptogenic liver cirrhosis in 1998. This patient developed severe acute rejection 14 months after transplantation which was associated with a sudden drop in cyclosporin A levels. Two weeks previously, he had started taking the herbal drug Hypericum perforatum (2 x 900 mg/day) for increasing episodes of depression. The cyclosporin A dosage later had to be doubled, which caused some side effects. Finally, an assessment of oral cyclosporin A resorption suggested an enhanced cyclosporin A metabolism. Hypericum perforatum was stopped. Both cyclosporin A dosage and blood levels immediately returned to normal. The liver function recovered completely. In conclusion, this observation is a previously undescribed drug interaction of a widely used herbal drug (Hypericum perforatum, i.e. St. John's wort) in a patient after liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Cyclosporine / metabolism*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypericum*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / metabolism*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plants, Medicinal*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine