
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Drug induced liver injury screening
Introduction
Overview
Overview
General screening guidelines for drug induced liver injury do not exist. However, certain specific guidelines have been established for drugs associated with a high incidence of severe liver injury, e.g. methotrexate.[1] These guidelines remain controversial.
Screening
Screening
Periodic screening of serum alanine aminotransferase is sometimes initiated for drugs associated with a high incidence of liver injury, at provider discretion.[2]
However, because frequent laboratory monitoring is often not possible for both patients and providers, compliance with any drug-specific surveillance guidelines is variable and drug-specific guidelines remain controversial. This is largely because the significance of a mildly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase is unclear and may result in inappropriate drug withdrawal in patients who would otherwise adapt to ongoing use of the inciting drug.
References
References
- ↑ Fries JF, Ramey DR, Singh G (1994). “Suggested guidelines for monitoring liver toxicity in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate: comment on the article by Kremer et al”. Arthritis Rheum. 37 (12): 1829–30. PMID 7986233.
- ↑ Davern TJ (2012). “Drug-induced liver disease”. Clin Liver Dis. 16 (2): 231–45. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.03.002. PMID 22541696.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rachita Navara, M.D. [2]
