Drug-induced liver injury in the elderly

Jonathan G. Stine, Praveen Sateesh, James H. Lewis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Historically, the elderly have been considered to be at increased risk for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Animal studies have demonstrated changes in hepatic physiology that affect drug metabolism in the aging liver; however, there is no evidence that this leads to any appreciable deterioration of liver function in healthy older humans. Updated data from international DILI registries give us pause to consider whether the elderly are truly at increased risk to develop hepatic injury. Instead, hepatotoxicity in the elderly appears to be more a function of drug exposure, polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions. Isoniazid and benoxaprofen are the only two agents with a well-studied correlation between increasing age and risk of DILI. Nevertheless, given the increasing proportion of patients over age 65 in the U.S. and abroad, the influence of age on the risk of DILI is the focus of this review.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number299
JournalCurrent gastroenterology reports
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Gastroenterology

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