ABSTRACT
I. Hepatic Toxicity of NSAIDs-A “Class Effect”? II. Disposition and Metabolism of NSAIDs-Implications for Hepatic Adverse Effects III. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of NSAID-Induced Hepatotoxicity IV. Idiosyncratic Liver Toxicity Caused by NSAIDs V. Conclusions
References
I. HEPATIC TOXICITY OF NSAIDs-A “CLASS EFFECT”? Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to a group of therapeutic agents that are frequently prescribed because of their analgesic and antipyretic properties. Many NSAIDs are even available without a prescription and are generally considered safe. However, because a large population of patients is exposed to these drugs, it is not surprising that a relatively large number of adverse effects have been reported. The extremely wide use worldwide has led to an extensive literature on the incidence and types of major and minor adverse effects. Although the most frequent adverse effects associated with the use of NSAIDs clearly occur in the gastrointestinal tract, other target organs, including the
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liver, have been identified. Comprehensive reviews are available that summarize the risk and the clinical manifestations of NSAID-related hepatic disorders (1-16).
