Simin Zhang1,2, Hongqiu Pan3, Xianzhen Peng1, Hui Lu2, Hong Fan2, Xianzhi Zheng1, Guisheng Xu1, Min Wang1, Jianming Wang1,2,4. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 2. Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 3. Department of Tuberculosis, The Third Hospital of Zhenjiang City, Zhenjiang, China. 4. The Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Nanjing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hepatoprotectants are routinely prescribed in China to prevent anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI). However, their biological mechanisms have not yet been clearly demonstrated. This study aims to evaluate the preventive effects of Silybum marianum against drug-induced liver injury among tuberculosis patients and to provide clinical guidelines for tuberculosis management in China. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed in Jiangsu, China. Tuberculosis patients were randomly allocated to the experimental group (anti-tuberculosis therapy plus S. marianum capsule) or the control group (anti-tuberculosis therapy plus vitamin C tablet). The primary outcomes were the occurrence of probable and possible ATLI, the peak aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio and the maximum altered alkaline phosphatase or gamma-glutamyl transferase. RESULTS: The final analysis comprised 183 cases in the experiment group and 187 cases in the control group. The risk of developing probable ATLI was not significantly different between the two groups. During the follow-up period, 43.72% of cases in the experiment group and 35.83% of cases in the control group were determined to have possible ATLI (relative risk = 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.54). When using a more strict definition of possible ATLI, the adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) was 1.76 (1.14-2.56). The risks of adverse drug reactions, prolonged treatment length, taking second-line tuberculosis drugs, and the clearance of tuberculosis bacteria were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant preventive effect of silymarin was found for either lowering the risk of liver injury or boosting the positive outcomes. Worse, we even found a potential risk of liver damage caused by the hepatoprotectant.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hepatoprotectants are routinely prescribed in China to prevent anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI). However, their biological mechanisms have not yet been clearly demonstrated. This study aims to evaluate the preventive effects of Silybum marianum against drug-induced liver injury among tuberculosispatients and to provide clinical guidelines for tuberculosis management in China. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed in Jiangsu, China. Tuberculosispatients were randomly allocated to the experimental group (anti-tuberculosis therapy plus S. marianum capsule) or the control group (anti-tuberculosis therapy plus vitamin C tablet). The primary outcomes were the occurrence of probable and possible ATLI, the peak aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio and the maximum altered alkaline phosphatase or gamma-glutamyl transferase. RESULTS: The final analysis comprised 183 cases in the experiment group and 187 cases in the control group. The risk of developing probable ATLI was not significantly different between the two groups. During the follow-up period, 43.72% of cases in the experiment group and 35.83% of cases in the control group were determined to have possible ATLI (relative risk = 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.54). When using a more strict definition of possible ATLI, the adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) was 1.76 (1.14-2.56). The risks of adverse drug reactions, prolonged treatment length, taking second-line tuberculosis drugs, and the clearance of tuberculosis bacteria were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant preventive effect of silymarin was found for either lowering the risk of liver injury or boosting the positive outcomes. Worse, we even found a potential risk of liver damage caused by the hepatoprotectant.