title: Antituberculosis drug-related liver dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: Liver toxicity is a common side effect of antituberculosis (anti-TB) drugs. We studied the differences in liver dysfunction observed during anti-TB treatment between hepatitis B virus carriers (HBV) and noncarriers. Three hundred twenty-four patients on anti-TB drugs were recruited and followed up for 1 year. Forty-three patients with HBV and 276 non-HBV patients were included for analysis. Liver function tests and viral markers were monitored monthly. Liver biopsy was requested whenever the alanine transaminase (ALT) was persistently abnormal. Eighty-six HBV carriers who were not given anti-TB drugs were chosen as a second control and evaluated prospectively. The incidence of liver dysfunction was significantly higher in HBV carriers given anti-TB drugs (34.9%) when compared to noncarriers (9.4%, P <.001) and with HBV carriers not given anti-TB drugs (8.1%, P <.001). For patients given anti-TB drugs, HBV carriers who developed liver dysfunction were younger (P =.011) and had more severe liver injury compared with noncarriers (P =.008). By multiple logistic regression analysis, age (P =.002) and hepatitis B infection (P <.001) were the only 2 significant risk factors for hepatotoxicity related to anti-TB therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase