Hepatic failure nimesulide

Nimesulide has been reported to induce hepatic failure in some cases (McCormick et al., 1999 Ferreiro et al., 2000). 

Of five patients, two died as a result of fulminant hepatic failure while taking nimesulide (2). 

Fulminant hepatic failure due to massive hepatic necrosis occurred in a 58-year-old woman who took nimesulide for a few weeks for osteoarthritis (4). In the months before, she had received a first short course of the drug, apparently without problems. When she resumed nimesulide therapy she complained of non-specific symptoms, including nausea, and appeared jaundiced. The drug was withdrawn and Uver transplantation was performed, but she died of multiorgan failure. 

Liver Nimesulide-induced hepatotoxidty can occur, with serious and potentially fatal outcomes. Three cases of liver failure related to nimesulide have been reported 77, 78 ]. In a retrospective analysis from the Irish national liver transplant unit all recipients of a liver transplant for fulminant hepatic failure of unknown cause (1994-2007) were evaluated [79 ]. There were 32 patients with seronegative, non-paracetamol-induced liver failure. Nimesulide had been started within 6 months in six patients and was assessed as probably associated with liver injury in all of these cases. 

Betrosian AP, Flevari K, Andrianakis I, Boudouri I, Douzinas EE. Severe hemolytic anemia and fatal hepatic failure associated with nimesulide. Dig Liver Dis 2009 41(1) 80. 

Walker SL, Kennedy F, Niamh N, McCormick PA. Nimesulide associated fulminant hepatic failure. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2008 17(11) 1108-12. 

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