# Drug-Induced Liver Injury After Zoledronic Acid Infusion and Literature Review

**Authors:** Christopher Boldt, Pooja Prasad, Huifang Lu

PMC · DOI: 10.1210/jcemcr/luaf046 · JCEM Case Reports · 2025-03-20

## TL;DR

A 50-year-old woman developed acute liver injury after receiving zoledronic acid, highlighting a rare but serious side effect of the drug.

## Contribution

This case report adds to the limited evidence on zoledronic acid-induced hepatotoxicity and raises awareness among clinicians.

## Key findings

- The patient experienced acute liver injury shortly after zoledronic acid infusion.
- Liver enzymes normalized within 11 days after the incident.
- No preexisting liver disease or viral hepatitis was found in the patient.

## Abstract

Zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate, is commonly used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Here we report a rare case of acute hepatotoxicity after zoledronic acid infusion in a 50-year-old female patient with no preexisting liver disease taking anastrozole and abemaciclib. Only a few hours after her infusion, the patient developed severe body aches, nausea, and abdominal bloating. Laboratory tests revealed an acute liver injury. Acute viral hepatitis workup was negative, and she was subsequently diagnosed with a hepatocellular drug-induced liver injury. Her transaminitis downtrended over the following day and normalized after 11 days. Given this rarely reported side effect, there is a paucity of evidence to guide treatment decisions. The goal of this case report is to increase awareness of this adverse effect, especially among patients taking other potentially hepatotoxic drugs.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** zoledronic acid (PubChem CID 68740), anastrozole (PubChem CID 2187), abemaciclib (PubChem CID 46220502)
- **Diseases:** osteoporosis (MONDO:0005298), hepatitis (MONDO:0002251)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** viral hepatitis (MESH:D014777), acute liver injury (MESH:D017114), liver disease (MESH:D008107), Drug-Induced Liver Injury (MESH:D056486), osteoporosis (MESH:D010024), nausea (MESH:D009325), abdominal bloating (MESH:D000007), body aches (MESH:D010146)
- **Chemicals:** anastrozole (MESH:D000077384), Zoledronic Acid Infusion (-), Zoledronic acid (MESH:D000077211), abemaciclib (MESH:C000590451), bisphosphonate (MESH:D004164)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11924179/full.md

## References

13 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11924179/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11924179