title: Drug-induced hepatic injury: an analysis of 1100 cases reported to the Danish Committee on Adverse Drug Reactions between 1978 and 1987.
abstract: The Danish Committee on Adverse Drug Reactions received 1100 reports of suspected drug-induced hepatic injury during the decade 1978-1987. The causal relationship between drug and hepatic injury was classified as definite in 57 (5.2%) reports, probable in 989 (89.9%) reports, possible in 50 (4.5%) reports and unclassifiable in four (0.4%) reports. Hepatic injuries accounted for 5.9% of all adverse drug reactions reported, and 14.7% of the lethal adverse drug reactions. A total of 47.2% were classified as acute cytotoxic, 16.2% as acute cholestatic and 26.9% as abnormal hepatic function. In 52 (4.7%) cases the hepatic injury was lethal; only 14 (1.3%) cases were chronic. Halothane accounted for 25% of the cases. The incidence of halothane-induced hepatic injury is decreasing, and only one lethal case has been reported since 1981. Next to halothane, sulfasalazine was the drug most often suspected during the last 2 years of the decade. Based on consumption data, the incidence of hepatic injury due to sulindac was estimated to be 18-fold higher than that due to ibuprofen. Paracetamol was reported to induce acute cytotoxic as well as cholestatic reactions in non-alcoholic subjects taking therapeutic doses.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department F. Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andreasen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000637:Transaminases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase