This article describes a case of a 23-year-old man who developed severe jaundice, itching, and other symptoms after ingesting high doses of kratom for 2 weeks. Kratom is an herbal supplement with opioid-like effects that is becoming increasingly popular, but its toxicity is not well understood. The man’s liver biopsy showed unusual features including canalicular cholestasis (buildup of bile) and perivenular necrosis (death of cells around veins). He was treated with medications to help his symptoms and liver recovered over several weeks after stopping the kratom. This case adds to the limited information available on the potential for kratom to cause liver injury.
Key takeaways:
- Kratom can cause severe liver injury in some people.
- Kratom-induced liver injury can have unique histological features like canalicular cholestasis and perivenular necrosis.
- Discontinuing kratom and using supportive treatments can allow the liver to recover in many cases.
- More research is needed to fully understand the toxicity of kratom.
For further reading:
Full Citation:
Allison DR, Mubarak M, Sharma N, Rao DS. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)-Induced
Hepatitis. ACG Case Rep J. 2022;9:e00715
