Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver damage

  1. Awareness of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver damage: Almost all anti-tuberculosis drugs have an effect on the liver. The incidence of reversible moderate transaminase elevation in those receiving antituberculosis therapy is 15-30%. The incidence of hepatic impairment associated with antituberculosis drugs confirmed by re-dosing attacks is about 2%. However, liver damage that occurs during antituberculosis treatment is not always caused by antituberculosis drugs, but may also be caused by combined viral hepatitis or other causes, or may be caused by tuberculosis lesions in the liver itself. In the case of drug-induced cases, it is important to clarify which drug or drugs are responsible. The main drugs involved in liver damage during anti-tuberculosis treatment are rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, aminothiourea, ethionamide, prothioisonicotinamide, sodium p-aminosalicylate, etc.  2, what are the manifestations of liver damage caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs: the signs and symptoms of hepatitis caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs lack specificity. Some patients may show typical manifestations of hepatitis, such as nausea, aversion to oil, weakness, jaundice, liver enlargement and pain in the liver area. Other patients are completely asymptomatic and only abnormalities are found when liver function tests are done.  3. How to respond when liver damage occurs: So far, there is no exact relationship between the degree of transaminase elevation and the severity of hepatotoxic reactions. Whether to stop anti-tuberculosis treatment often depends on the clinical experience of the physician and the clinical presentation of the patient. Not all antituberculosis drug-induced hepatic impairment requires discontinuation of the drug. The incidence of moderate reversible transaminase elevations is about 15-30%, and discontinuation of all antituberculosis drugs would unnecessarily interrupt treatment in 10-20% of patients and may increase drug-resistant mycobacterial formation. INH and RFP should be discontinued if AST is elevated >3 x ULN or if blood bilirubin is elevated, but reintroduction of medication should await normalization of liver function.