Hepatotoxicity of mild analgesics.
1 Hepatotoxicity is rare when mild analgesics are used in normal therapeutic doses. 2 The potential of aspirin and salicylates to cause hepatotoxicity has been only recently recognized. 3 Salicylate hepatitis is often asymptomatic, and may only be revealed by finding elevated levels of aminotransferases. 4 Most cases have occurred in children or young adults with connective tissue diseases, who take high doses of salicylates for long periods. 5 Hepatic injury is not recognized as a complication of acute aspirin poisoning. 6 Following overdosage of paracetamol, a toxic intermediate metabolite causes acute hepatic necrosis which may be fatal. 7 Cysteamine, methionine and N-acetylcysteine confer protection against this severe liver damage, but the time between overdosage and treatment is critical. 8 The chronic therapeutic use of paracetamol should be considered a potential but very rare cause of active chronic hepatitis. 9 There is no clear evidence of phenacetin hepatotoxicity in man. 10 Phenylbutazone may cause liver injury and other analgesics can cause hypersensitivity reactions in which the liver is involved.
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D010615:Phenacetin / Q000009:adverse effects; D010653:Phenylbutazone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012459:Salicylates / Q000009:adverse effects
D000700:Analgesics; D012459:Salicylates; D000082:Acetaminophen; D010615:Phenacetin; D010653:Phenylbutazone; D001241:Aspirin