title: Lack of hepatotoxicity associated with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
abstract: Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), particularly nevirapine, have been associated with hepatotoxicity. We performed a retrospective study to determine the incidence of NNRTI hepatotoxicity in a group of HIV-infected patients from a New York City practice. These patients are predominantly homosexual white males. We also analyzed the effect of coinfection with hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) virus. In total, 272 patients received NNRTIS: 40 (15%) received delavirdine, 91 (33%) received efavirenz, and 141 (52%) received nevirapine. Of the patients with known hepatitis status, 18 of 190 (9%) were coinfected with HBV, and 24 of 205 were coinfected (12%) with HCV. The overall rate of grade 3 to 4 elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 3 of 272 (1.1%) and did not differ significantly among the three NNRTIs. HBV or HCV was not associated with a significant increase in AST or ALT elevations. We conclude that NNRTIs are relatively free from hepatotoxicity in this population, despite the presence of coinfection with HBV or HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palmon
authors.forename: Bon Chang A
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shoultz
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Dieterich
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase