Autoimmune hepatitis triggered by nitrofurantoin: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Drugs can occasionally trigger the onset of autoimmune liver disease.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Three Caucasian women (aged 65, 42 and 74 years old) who were receiving long-term nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis against recurrent urinary tract infections developed hepatitic liver disease. Serological auto-antibody profiles and liver histology appearances were consistent with autoimmune hepatitis. Two of the patients presented with jaundice, and one required a prolonged hospital admission for liver failure. In all three patients nitrofurantoin was withdrawn, and long-term immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and azathioprine or mycophenolate was given. The patients responded well, with liver biochemistry returning to normal within a few months.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although nitrofurantoin rarely causes autoimmune hepatitis, this antimicrobial is increasingly used as long-term prophylaxis against recurrent urinary tract infection. General practitioners and urologists who prescribe long-term nitrofurantoin therapy should be aware of this adverse effect.</p

Population-Representative Incidence of Drug-Induced Acute Liver Failure Based on an Analysis of an Integrated Health Care System

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Medications are a major cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in the US, but no population-based studies have evaluated the incidence of ALF from drug-induced liver injury. We aimed to determine the incidence and outcomes of drug-induced ALF in an integrated healthcare system that approximates a population-based cohort. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) healthcare system between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2010. We included all KPNC members ≥18 y old with ≥6 months of membership and hospitalization for potential ALF. The primary outcome was drug-induced ALF (defined as coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy without underlying chronic liver disease), determined by hepatologists who reviewed medical records of all KPNC members with inpatient diagnostic and laboratory criteria suggesting potential ALF. RESULTS: Among 5,484,224 KPNC members between 2004 and 2010, 669 had inpatient diagnostic and laboratory criteria indicating potential ALF. After medical record review, 62 (9.3%) were categorized as having definite or possible ALF, and 32 (51.6%) had a drug-induced etiology (27 definite, 5 possible). Acetaminophen was implicated in 18 events (56.3%), dietary/herbal supplements in 6 (18.8%), antimicrobials in 2 (6.3%), and miscellaneous medications in 6 (18.8%). One patient with acetaminophen-induced ALF died (5.6%; .06 events/1,000,000 person-years) compared to 3 patients with non-acetaminophen induced ALF (21.4%; .18/1,000,000 person-years). Overall, 6 patients (18.8%) underwent liver transplantation, and 22 patients (68.8%) were discharged without transplantation. The incidence rates of any definite drug-induced ALF and acetaminophen-induced ALF were 1.61 events/1,000,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.35) events and 1.02 events/1,000,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 0.59–1.63), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-induced ALF is uncommon, but over-the-counter products and dietary/herbal supplements are its most common causes