Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019214 (hepatosplenomegaly)
 4,408 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 15-year old Black teenager came to a clinic at the University of Alabama's School of Medicine in Tuscaloosa requesting oral contraceptives (OCs). The physical examination indicated that she was in good health and the physician prescribed an OC (1 mg norethindrone and .035 mg ethinyl estradiol). 21 months later she returned complaining of yellow eyes for 3 weeks. The oral mucosa was also jaundiced. She had considerably high levels of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. She had no hepatitis virus antibodies. 5 months later she returned for the physical examination required to renew the OC prescription. She did not have jaundice at this time. 10 months later she complained of malaise and muscular pain. Her alkaline phosphatase level was high, but her bilirubin level was normal. She had mild hepatosplenomegaly without focal defects. After reviewing her medical records, the physician diagnosed intrahepatic cholestasis and discontinued her OC prescription. Liver function tests were normal within 3 months. 14 months later, she returned complaining of malaise and reported taking OCs obtained at another clinic 3 months earlier. The physician advised her about the complications of OCs and about other contraceptive methods. The same physician also examined a 32-year-old Black woman who had intermittent epigastric and right-upper quadrant abdominal pain for 2 weeks. Eating worsened the pain, which lasted for up to 15 minutes. She had used an OC for 12 years. Ultrasound revealed a 4.2 cm hypoechoic mass in the left upper lobe of the liver. The physician discontinued the OCs. The tumor regressed over 12 months. Active liver disease is a contraindication to OC use. Women who had cholestatic jaundice while pregnant or have first degree relatives with cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy should not use OCs. Physicians may introduce OCs to closely monitored women with a history of liver disease whose liver function tests are normal. Women with a family history of biliary excretion defects should not use OCs.
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PMID:Hepatobiliary complications of oral contraceptives. 133 97