title: A review of the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol at therapeutic or near-therapeutic dose levels, with particular reference to alcohol abusers.
abstract: The number of published reports associating hepatotoxicity with paracetamol ingestion at therapeutic or near-therapeutic dose levels is small but is, nevertheless, suggestive of a relationship. There is however, mounting evidence that certain groups of patients, such as alcohol-dependent people, patients receiving enzyme-inducing drugs (particularly anti-convulsant and anti-tuberculosis medications) as well as those with certain infectious diseases, are rendered more susceptible to paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Seventy-four case reports where therapeutic or near-therapeutic doses of paracetamol resulted in hepatic injury are reviewed and factors and mechanisms which might explain this apparently increased vulnerability to damage are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Starmer