title: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity in a tertiary care hospital in rural South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver is the main organ for metabolism of drugs and hepatotoxicity is a potential adverse effect for most drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was to study the frequency of drug-induced hepatotoxicity and to find the common drugs causing hepatotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural India. It is a study based on case series analysis. All patients with an abnormal liver function report, between July 2006 and July 2007, were included in the study
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 411 patients. Among them 141 patients were females and 270 males. The common cause for abnormal liver function was alcoholic liver disease (30.4%) followed by drug-induced hepatotoxicity (15.8%) and malaria (15.3%). Drug-induced hepatotoxicity was seen in 65 patients. It was common in males (55%) compared to females (44%). The mean age of the patients with drug-induced hepatotoxicity was 43±15.9. Antitubercular drugs were the commonly encountered drugs (44%) causing hepatotoxicity followed by lipid lowering agents (41%). The others drugs included antiretroviral drugs (6%),steroids (5%) and chlorpromazine (2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thorough history of drug intake must be taken in all patients presenting with abnormal hepatic function.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Unit, MAHSA University College, Jalan Elmu Off Jalan University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Heethal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaiprakash
authors.forename: Sarala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narayana
authors.forename: Jaiprakash
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohanraj