Hepatotoxicity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Medications

J Clin Gastroenterol. 2018 Sep;52(8):674-684. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001084.

Abstract

Various medications used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases have been implicated to cause hepatotoxicity. These include sulfasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acids, fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, thiopurines, methotrexate, anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, and alpha-4 integrin inhibitors. Various types of liver injury have been reported in association with these medications including hypersensitivity reaction, hepatocellular or cholestatic disease, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, portal hypertension and autoimmune liver injury. The revised Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) provides a scoring system to determine the likelihood of whether a drug caused liver injury. Unfortunately some of the reported liver injuries in association with these treatments have not undergone RUCAM assessment. Therefore, although some of the reports used in this review article show an association between a medication and the reported liver injury, they may not necessarily show causation. In this article, we address methods of monitoring to detect these injuries. We also discuss the prognosis and recommended management plans when liver injury occurs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / diagnosis
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy*
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
  • Drug Evaluation / methods
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Risk Assessment / methods

Substances

  • Gastrointestinal Agents