Toxic hepatitis due to heliz

INTRODUCTION: Toxic hepatitis is a dose-dependent or idiosyncratic liver disease accompanied by acute or chronic liver injury that induced by the ingestion of drugs or other substances. It even could be mortal, sometimes. Toxic hepatitis is common due to Heliz grass which is consumed frequently in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia of our country. We aim to present toxic hepatitis due to Heliz consumption for the first time in the literature, in this study. METHODS: The data of 30 patient, hospitalized and followed-up and treated in gastroenterology department of our hospital, and who had a history of Heliz grass consumption in the last 1 day between 2014-2018 were compiled and analyzed. RESULTS: Liver function tests of the patients were elevated. Hepatitis markers were negative in viral serology except one patient. Examinations for autoimmune liver disease, brucellosis and celiac examinations were normal. Ten patients were referred to the transplant center because of the need for transplantation. None of these patients required transplantation at follow-up. All were discharged with healing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Heliz, well known in Turkey's eastern and southeastern Anatolia, is a plant used in various dishes, making cheese with herbs and making pickles. Although it is thought that this plant has various benefits among the public, its hepatotoxicity-producing effect has not yet entered the literature. We believe that Heliz hepatotoxicity will be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with toxic hepatitis.