Drug-induced liver disease in Denmark. An analysis of 572 cases of hepatotoxicity reported to the Danish Board of Adverse Reactions to Drugs

Scand J Gastroenterol. 1982 Mar;17(2):205-11. doi: 10.3109/00365528209182041.

Abstract

During the decade 1968-1978 the Danish Board of Adverse Reactions to Drugs received 572 (6% of the total number) reports on hepatotoxicity. Halothane amounted to one fourth of the reported cases. Among the 94 psychotropic-induced adverse drug reactions 54 cases were attributed to chlorpromazine, 10 to tricyclic antidepressants, and only 2 to benzodiazepines. Considering the drug consumption data, the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is nearly five times more frequently associated with hepatotoxicity than administration of sulfamethizole. Almost two thirds of the hepatotoxic reactions were classified as cytotoxic. Halothane, oxyphenisatin, rifampicin, alfa-methyldopa, papaverine, phenytoin, and ajmaline were almost exclusively related to cytotoxic reactions. Excluding the halothane-induced hepatotoxic reactions, the relative mortality of the cytotoxic (6%) reactions is not significantly different from that of the cholestatic (3%) ones. Thirteen percent of the patients with halothane-induced hepatotoxicity died.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects
  • Antitubercular Agents / adverse effects
  • Benzodiazepines / adverse effects
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Chlorpromazine / adverse effects
  • Contraceptives, Oral / adverse effects
  • Denmark
  • Drug Combinations / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Halothane / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxyphenisatin Acetate / adverse effects
  • Risk Management
  • Sulfamethoxazole / adverse effects
  • Trimethoprim / adverse effects
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Drug Combinations
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Trimethoprim
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Oxyphenisatin Acetate
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Halothane