H Türktaş1, M Unsal, N Tülek, O Orüç. 1. Department of Respiratory Diseases, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
SETTING: Department of Chest Diseases, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine and Atatürk Chest Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to assess the contributory role of viral hepatitis in antituberculosis drug hepatotoxicity. DESIGN: Serologic markers for viral hepatitis were studied in 57 patients who developed acute hepatitis during antituberculosis therapy with rifampicin and isoniazid. RESULTS: Among 705 adult tuberculous patients, 57 (8.1%) developed acute hepatitis during therapy with rifampicin and isoniazid. Serologic markers confirmed the presence of hepatitis B in 6 (10.5%) and hepatitis C in 4 (7%) of the 57 patients. Acute hepatitis A was not diagnosed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis occurring during antituberculosis therapy may not be drug-induced in all patients. Apart from the other factors mentioned above the endemicity of viral hepatitis in developing countries could be responsible for the higher incidence of antituberculosis-drug hepatitis.
SETTING: Department of Chest Diseases, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine and Atatürk Chest Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to assess the contributory role of viral hepatitis in antituberculosis drug hepatotoxicity. DESIGN: Serologic markers for viral hepatitis were studied in 57 patients who developed acute hepatitis during antituberculosis therapy with rifampicin and isoniazid. RESULTS: Among 705 adult tuberculouspatients, 57 (8.1%) developed acute hepatitis during therapy with rifampicin and isoniazid. Serologic markers confirmed the presence of hepatitis B in 6 (10.5%) and hepatitis C in 4 (7%) of the 57 patients. Acute hepatitis A was not diagnosed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION:Hepatitis occurring during antituberculosis therapy may not be drug-induced in all patients. Apart from the other factors mentioned above the endemicity of viral hepatitis in developing countries could be responsible for the higher incidence of antituberculosis-drug hepatitis.