Drug-induced liver injury

Kumachev presents several facts about drug-induced liver injury. Drug-induced liver injury can be caused by a variety of medications, supplements and herbal products. Drug-induced liver injury is estimated to have an incidence of 14-19 cases per 100,000 individuals. Although asymptomatic liver enzyme elevation is the most common presentation, drug-induced liver injury is the most common cause of acute liver failure in most Western countries, accounting for more than 50% of cases. Drug-induced liver injury can occur in overdose or at therapeutic dosing, either because of direct, intrinsic drug hepatotoxicity or as a result of idiosyncratic (unpredictable) hepatotoxicity.