PELIOSIS HEPATIS - 12 CASES ASSOCIATED WITH ORAL ANDROGEN THERAPY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 101  (8) , 405-410
Abstract
Peliosis hepatis was encountered in 12 patients treated with high-dose oxymetholone or fluoxymesterone therapy. In 3 cases liver failure was the primary cause of death. In 1 case, the diagnosis was established by biopsy, the androgen therapy was discontinued and the lesion was absent at autopsy 2 yr later. In 8 cases peliosis hepatis was an incidental finding at postmortem examination. The clinical and anatomic features of these cases are described, and previously reported cases of peliosis are briefly reviewed. A hypothesis is offered to explain the association of this peculiar lesion with anabolic androgen therapy.