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LIVER RESEARCH: Patients using the prescription drug Rezulin to treat type II diabetes could face liver transplantation if not properly monitored by a physician, says a Saint Louis University School of Medicine liver specialist. Brent A. Tetri, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology, has co-authored a case report on these findings that appeared in the July 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. The drug can have a bad reaction with the liver and result in liver failure. One in 100,000 patients with type II diabetes taking Rezulin could suffer liver failure and need to have a liver transplant if not followed closely by a physician.
Tetri said diabetes patients taking Rezulin need to have a blood test for their liver enzymes every month during the first six months of treatment. If any new symptoms occur after starting Rezulin, such as nausea or vomiting, the patient should consult his or her physician promptly. "These findings are important because patients and physicians need to know the risks associated with taking Rezulin,"Tetri said. "The drug works well in treating diabetes, but constant attention has to be paid or liver transplantation could result. If patients notice anything out of the ordinary, they should call their physician immediately."
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