Liver dysfunction induced by rifampicin (author's transl)

Rifampicin (RFP)-induced liver dysfunction during the treatment for tuberculosis was discussed. Incidence of RFP-induced liver dysfunction was 11.1% (151 cases) among 1,359 cases treated with RFP-containing regimens. Many of the RFP-induced liver dysfunction were observed in the early stage of chemotherapy, and the elevation of serum transaminases (s-GOT and s-GPT) was mild in the majority of cases. As the recovery was retarded among cases with s-transaminases above 100 K-U than cases below 100, the former RFP should be discontinued in the former until the restoration of liver dysfunction. Attention should be payed to the cases with elevated s-transaminases combined with abnormalities of other laboratory data such as ZnTT, history of other liver dysfunction, diabetes mellitus or habitual drinkings, as the recovery of liver dysfunction is retarded in such cases. The liver dysfunction as one of the side-effects should be given proper attention in the treatment for tuberculosis, considering long-term benefit of patients.