DRUG INDUCED LIVER INJURY

Abstract

Drug-induced liver injury represents a frequent cause of acute liver failure and encompasses a series of reactions that links direct damage to liver cells to immune mechanisms or idiosyncratic reactions.

Its incidence is difficult to determine, however, it is recognized as a rare adverse effect. Depending on the type of enzymatic changes, they can be divided into 3 large groups: cholestatic, hepatocellular and mixed.

Due to the diversity of associated mechanisms, the presentation is heterogeneous, and symptoms vary with different degrees of severity; ranging from asymptomatic patients, whose only evidenced finding includes elevations in liver function tests, to the development of fulminant acute liver failure.

It is a diagnosis of exclusion; all possible causes must be ruled out prior to classifying a patient with this diagnosis. Treatment in general consists of suspending the causal agent and supportive treatment, however, depending on the etiology, specific therapies may be offered.