Anti Tuberculosis Drug Induced Hepatotoxicity in Hiv Positive and Negative Patients
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Date
2005-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) is a common problem in the management of tuberculosis. This study was intended to identify possible risk factors for development of DIH, including degree of immunosuppression. In this prospective 2-month cohort study, 103 HIV positive and 94 HIV negative newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients were followed after initiation of DOTS (direct observed treatment short course). CD4 count was measured for the HIV positive patients. All patients were also evaluated for different risk factors including HBsAg, Anti-HCV, alcohol intake, use of other drugs including traditional medicines, acetylation status and presence of chronic illness. Patients were monitored biochemically (by liver function tests) and clinically for development of DIH weekly in the first month and bi-weekly in the second month after start of therapy. Biochemical hepatotoxicity was seen in 17.3% of the patients. CD4 counts of these patients were 0-50 for 7 (35%), 51-100 for 8 (40%), 101-200 for 4 (20%), and > 200 for 1 (5%). Three patients were positive for HBsAg and none had anti-HCV. Five patients died of non-hepatic causes among the patients who developed DIH. Eight out of the 34 patients with biochemical hepatotoxicity (23.5%) developed clinical hepatotoxicity that necessitated discontinuation of their anti-TB drugs. Seven of the eight were HIV positive, seven were female, and 2 were positive for HBsAg. Biochemical hepatotoxicity was significantly associated with HIV co-infection (p=0.002), concomitant drug intake (p=0.008), decrease in CD4 count (p=0.001), high mortality (p=0.001), and having Wt/Wt allele for acetylation status (p=0.026). Clinical hepatotoxicity is also significantly associated with being female (p=0.027), HIV co-infection (p=0.043), concomitant drug intake (p=0.003), HBsAg (p=0.046), decrease in CD4 count (p=0.025), and high mortality (p=0.0001). No significant association was seen between hepatotoxicity with alcohol intake, age, body mass index, type of TB and anti HCV positivity. The findings would assist in selectively managing patients at risk. It is recommended to have a regular biochemical and clinical follow up for those patients who are at risk of developing DIH .These patients include HIV positive patients, with special emphasis to those with a lower CD4 count, and patients who take drugs other than their anti TB medication. We also recommend that further work should be done to explore the reason for the observed association between DIH and female sex, HBsAg positivity, and acetylation status.
Key words: Tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatotoxicity, Acetylation status, NAT2 gene
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Keywords
Tuberculosis; HIV; Hepatotoxicity; Acetylation status; NAT2 gene