title: The clinical and histological characteristics and outcomes of drug induced chronic liver injury after removing causative drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate characteristics and outcomes of drug induced chronic liver injury after removing causative drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between Apr 2001 and Mar 2010, patients diagnosed as drug induced liver injury and with chronic courses, were observed. Chronic liver injury was defined as persistent biochemical abnormality for more than 6 months after drugs withdrawal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were observed with mean age 41 years and female 28 (70%). Of the 40 patients, 32 (80%) cases showed hepatocellular injury at the onset of liver damage, 4 (10%) cases showed cholestatic injury, and 4 (10%) cases showed mixed injury. Of 32 patients with hepatocellular injury, 24 (75%) cases resemble acute icteric hepatitis at the onset of liver damage. Of 27 patients with hepatocellular injury who underwent liver biopsy, 14 (51.9%) cases showed chronic hepatitis with a mean follow up of 17 months. Of total 40 patients, 15 (37.5%) patients resolved; 18 (45%) cases remained persistent liver injury, 4 (10%) cases developed cirrhosis, 3 (7.5%) cases died. Herbs (45.5%) are the commonest drugs implicated in chronic liver injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most cases with drug induced chronic liver injury after removing causative drugs resemble acute icteric hepatitis at the onset of liver damage. Some patients can resolve, some may progress to cirrhosis. Herbs are important drugs for drug induced chronic liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases & Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Qin
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Tai-Ling
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Gui-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056487:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult