Approach to Liver Injury Caused by Drugs and Toxins

Abstract

The liver is an essential organ involved in elimination of drugs and toxins. Any drug, including herbal remedies or dietary supplements, can be a causative agent for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). An aging society or requirement for advanced medical care with multiple medications may complicate the management of DILI, especially in developed countries. The possibility of developing DILI should always be considered when starting new drugs. The classification of DILI—hepatocellular, cholestatic, or mixed—is useful for management. Discontinuation of the causative drug is usually sufficient to manage patients with DILI, but liver injury may persist or progress even after the drug has been stopped, especially in cholestatic type DILI.

Keywords: Causality assessment, DILI, liver function, Toxic liver injury.

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