Herbal supplement use leads to emergency liver transplant in Lithuania

A 59 year old woman named Regina underwent an emergency liver transplant in Lithuania after consuming a herbal supplement intended to improve liver function.

Regina purchased the preparation through social media and took one capsule daily. After experiencing jaundice, she sought medical attention and was diagnosed with acute liver damage. Doctors at Kauno klinikos determined that the herbal preparation likely caused the severe organ damage.

Despite stopping the supplement and starting treatment, Regina's condition worsened as her liver failed to function, leading to blood clotting issues and impaired brain activity. Computer tomography scans revealed multiple areas of non viable tissue, which prompted the medical team to place her on an urgent transplant list. The transplant team successfully performed the surgery after a donor organ became available a few weeks later. Doc.

Irena Valantienė from the Kauno klinikos Gastroenterologijos klinikos explained that while herbal supplements are common, natural products can contain high concentrations of active substances like curcumin, which may cause severe reactions. She advised the public to be cautious about products of unknown origin and to consult doctors before use.