[Thrombosed St. Jude Medical prosthesis with drug induced hepatitis due to warfarin potassium--a case report].

: A case was presented of a 51-year-old woman who underwent aortic valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical prosthesis two and a half years before. The patient was initially placed on Warfarin potassium after the surgery. However she gradually developed jaundice during the period of two months Warfarin was replaced with ticlopidine hydrochloride as it was thought to be the most probable cause of jaundice. The prosthesis was subsequently thrombosed and had to be replaced with a Carpentier bovine pericardial valve. Warfarin potassium rarely induces the hepatic dysfunction as a result of drug allergy. However, the prompt diagnosis and adequate management are essential if it should occur.