The incidence and clinical characters of drug-induced liver injury in patients after liver transplantation

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in patients after liver transplantation (LTx). Methods The patients who received LTx in our center from January 2005 to December 2015 were enrolled. The pathological and clinical data were analyzed to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of DILI in post-LTx patients. Results A total of 21 (3.77%) cases were diagnosed DILI from 557 post-LTx patients. There were 3 patterns (hepatocellular, cholestatic, and mixed), cholestatic pattern predominant (n = 11, 52.4%). Of these DILI cases, 16 (76.2%) were mild, 4 (19%) were moderate. DILI attacked in 5 cases (23.8%) within 3 months after transplantation, and in 13 cases (61.9%) within 1 year. The major agents inducing DILI were immunosuppressive agents (n = 11, 52.4%), especially tacrolimus. Besides, antifungal agents (n = 2, 9.5%), antituberculotics (n = 2, 9.5%), and Chinese herb (n = 3, 14.3%) were also causative agents. After symptomatic treatment, the liver function of 17 patients was significantly improved. Conclusion The incidence of DILI is low in patients after LTx. Antifungal drugs and tacrolimus are the main causes. The disease is relatively mild and mostly attacks within 1 year after LTx.

Key words: Liver transplantation, Drug induced liver injury, Incidence, Clinical character

ZHOU Xia, SUN Yan-ling, GAO Yin-jie, HE Xi, WANG Hong-bo, ZHANG Da-li, LIU Zhen-wen, LIU Hong-ling. The incidence and clinical characters of drug-induced liver injury in patients after liver transplantation[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2020, 25(8): 845-847.

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