Black cohosh-induced hepatitis.

Herbal products are widely used by American consumers. Herbal remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but they are not immune from serious medication side-effects. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with fatigue and right upper quadrant pain. The patient had begun the popular postmenopausal herbal remedy black cohosh two weeks prior to presentation. Laboratory results revealed acute hepatitis. After other causes of liver failure were ruled out, the patient was diagnosed with black cohosh-induced hepatitis. She recovered uneventfully following withdrawal of the herb. There are five prior reports of hepatitis or hepatic failure likely caused by the herbal remedy black cohosh in the English literature. This case illustrates the importance of a broad differential diagnosis for abdominal pain and highlights the importance of a complete medication list, including herbs.