Quantitative studies of the risk of serious hepatic injury in persons using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the risk of symptomatic hepatic injury associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).


METHODS
Five population-based studies were summarized to evaluate information on more than 1,000,000 patients using NSAIDs.


RESULTS
The risk of clinically apparent liver injury was approximately 1 case per 10,000 patient-years of NSAID use. Only sulindac, associated with a 5-10-fold higher incidence of hepatic injury, differed significantly from other NSAIDs. Patients using diclofenac showed no higher incidence of serious liver disease than did patients using other NSAIDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic hepatic effects attributable to most NSAIDs are extremely rare and usually mild.
Walker
A M
AM
Epidemiology Resources, Inc., Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts 02162-1450, USA.
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal