Shark Cartilage-Induced Hepatitis
Authors: Bimal Ashar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Letters1 November 1996Shark Cartilage-Induced HepatitisBimal Ashar, MD and Edith Vargo, MDBimal Ashar, MDWade Park Veterans Affairs Medical Center Cleveland, OH 44106. and Edith Vargo, MDWade Park Veterans Affairs Medical Center Cleveland, OH 44106.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-9-199611010-00028 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In the United States, the use of unconventional medicine is widespread and increasing. Eisenberg and colleagues [1] estimated that in 1990, approximately $2 billion was spent on vitamin and commercial diet supplements. The authors suggested that physicians should elicit information on unconventional therapies and medicines when taking patients' medical history. Even when such a history is taken, however, physicians may not have information on the efficacy and safety of these "alternative" medications. Shark cartilage is one such medication that has been in the media spotlight and is available as a food supplement [2].We evaluated a 57-year-old ...References1. Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins DR, Delbanco TL. Unconventional medicine in the United States. Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. N Engl J Med. 1993; 328:246-52. Google Scholar2. Mathews J. Media feeds frenzy over shark cartilage as cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993; 85:1190-1. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Bimal Ashar, MD; Edith Vargo, MDAffiliations: Wade Park Veterans Affairs Medical Center Cleveland, OH 44106. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byUse and perception of complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients: the CAMEO-PRO studyAnimal productsQuality Evaluation and Safety of Commercially Available Nutraceutical and Formulated ProductsComplementary and Alternative MedicineAnimal productsPrescription versus herbal medications for prostate cancer prevention: Why history cannot be allowed to repeat itself in your clinical practiceHerbal Product Contamination and ToxicityAdverse Effects and Toxicity of NutraceuticalsThe Future of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for CancerHerbs or Natural Products That Protect Against Cancer Growth: Part Three of a Four-Part SeriesComplementary and alternative medicine in breast cancer patientsHepatotoxicity and complementary and alternative medicinesRates of unconventional medical therapy use in patients with prostate cancer: standard history versus directed questionsThe placebo effect and randomized trials: analysis of alternative medicineShark Cartilage MonographAttitudes and use of alternative therapies in UK prostate cancer patients—isn't it time we were in the know?How useful are unconventional cancer treatments?Is there any use for nontraditional or alternative therapies in patients with chronic liver disease?Treatments used in complementary medicineAlternative medicine 1 November 1996Volume 125, Issue 9Page: 780-781KeywordsBilirubinCartilageDrugsHepatitisLiverResearch laboratoriesSafetySerum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminaseUltrasound imagingVomiting ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 1 November 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...