Association of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity with fasting and ethanol use.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of fasting and alcohol use with hepatotoxicity from acetaminophen ingested for therapeutic reasons.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Hospitals of the University of Pittsburgh (Pa) Medical Center.


METHODS
A total of 126,779 discharge summaries from January 1987 to July 1993 were reviewed using a comprehensive, whole-text-indexed medical database to identify all patients with acetaminophen ingestion and hepatotoxicity. These patients were categorized according to the intended acetaminophen use and dose of acetaminophen ingested.


METHODS
The independent variables of chronic alcohol use, recent alcohol use, and recent fasting were determined for all patients.


RESULTS
Forty-nine patients with acetaminophen hepatotoxicity (aspartate aminotransferase > 1000 U/L) were identified. Twenty-one patients (43%) ingested acetaminophen for therapeutic purposes. All patients with hepatotoxicity took more than the recommended limit of 4 g/d. Recent fasting was more common than recent alcohol use among those who suffered hepatotoxicity after a dose of 4 to 10 g of acetaminophen per day (P = .02). Recent alcohol use was more common in the group who took more than 10 g/d than in those who took 4 to 10 g/d (P = .004).


CONCLUSIONS
Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity after a dose of 4 to 10 g/d was associated with fasting and less commonly with alcohol use. Patients who developed hepatoxicity after taking acetaminophen doses of greater than 10 g/d for therapeutic purposes were alcohol users. Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity after an overdose appears to be enhanced by fasting in addition to alcohol ingestion.
Whitcomb
D C
DC
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Block
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GD
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000150:complications; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol