Drug-induced hepatotoxicity in a tertiary care hospital in Rural South India

Abstract

Background:Liver is the main organ for metabolism of drugs and hepatotoxicity is a potential adverse effect for most drugs.Aims:This study was to study the frequency of drug-induced hepatotoxicity and to find the common drugs causing hepatotoxicity.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural India. It is a study based on case series analysis. All patients with an abnormal liver function report, between July 2006 and July 2007, were included in the studyResults:The study included 411 patients. Among them 141 patients were females and 270 males. The common cause for abnormal liver function was alcoholic liver disease (30.4%) followed by drug-induced hepatotoxicity (15.8%) and malaria (15.3%). Drug-induced hepatotoxicity was seen in 65 patients. It was common in males (55%) compared to females (44%). The mean age of the patients with drug-induced hepatotoxicity was 43±15.9. Antitubercular drugs were the commonly encountered drugs (44%) causing hepatotoxicity followed by lipid lowering agents (41%). The others drugs included antiretroviral drugs (6%),steroids (5%) and chlorpromazine (2%).Conclusion:A thorough history of drug intake must be taken in all patients presenting with abnormal hepatic function.

Gender Differences and Treatment Outcome among Drug Induced Hepatotoxicity Tuberculosis Patients

“…Another study by Amer et al (2010) reported males (n=75, 59.5%) were more affected then females (n=51, 40.5%) [16,21]. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity was more common in males (n=36, 56%) than females (n=29, 44%) [22]. In this study, the incidence of anti-TB DIH is higher in male patients (n=146, 76.8%) than female patients (n=44, 23.2%).…”