Drug induced liver injury prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rachita Navara, M.D. [2]

Given that many cases of drug induced liver injury are idiosyncratic, it is often not possible to prevent injury.

Primary prevention strategies following drug induced liver injury include patient education on drug-drug interactions and safe dosing from known hepatotoxic drugs (e.g. acetaminophen). Currently, screening with routine serum alanine aminotransferase monitoring is controversial.

Secondary prevention strategies following drug induced liver injury include prompt withdrawal of the inciting drug, which is also the mainstay of treatment for this disease.