Gabapentin enacarbil is a long acting form of gabapentin that is used for restless leg syndrome and for painful postherpetic neuropathy. Gabapentin enacarbil and gabapentin are associated with a low rate of transient serum enzyme elevations during treatment and with rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury. Gabapentin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, has infrequently been reported to cause liver injury; however, the causality in the previous reports is contested. Hepatitis diagnostic Discontinuing gabapentin resulted in rapid reversal improvement in hepatocellular injury. Keywords: gabapentin, hepatotoxicity, drug-induced liver injury. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accounts for 10% of acute hepatitis cases annually [1]. The pattern of injury includes hepatocellular, cholestasis, or a mixed picture. Gabapentin and pregabalin have both been associated with the hypersensitivity syndrome (fever, rash, tender lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, and eosinophilia) [19][20][21] and hepatotoxicity [22] [23 Gabapentin-Induced Liver Toxicity. Chahal, Japjot MD 1; Arif, Muhammad Osman MD 2; Achufusi, Ted George MD 1. Author Information . 1 Internal Medicine, SUNY Upstate Herein, we report a gabapentin-induced hepatocellular injury in a patient without another identifiable cause for acute liver injury. Discontinuing gabapentin resulted in rapid reversal improvement in hepatocellular injury. Keywords: drug-induced liver injury; gabapentin; hepatotoxicity. In persons with chronic hepatitis C infection, mild to moderate hepatic iron overload is common.[16,17] In some studies, excess hepatic iron in persons with chronic HCV has been associated with accelerated fibrosis, whereas other studies have not shown a correlation of iron and hepatic fibrosis progression in persons with chronic HCV.[18,19,20,21] Given the extensive use of gabapentin in medical practice, this case represents an uncommon, but severe, complication of its use. This is also an example of DILI with suspected underlying NAFLD. While NAFLD has not been shown to predispose to DILI, it is suspected to be associated with more serious liver injury in patients who develop DILI. Does gabapentin cause such serious hepatotoxicity? Which drug do you propose as an alternative? Recent evidence suggests safety concerns associated with gabapentin including adverse neurologic effects. Individuals with hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, or AUD may be at increased risk due to comorbidities and potential medication interactions. We identified patients prescribed gabapentin for ≥ 60 days for any indication between 2002 and 2015. MeSH terms Acetates / adverse effects* Acetates / therapeutic use Acute Disease Causes of cirrhosis include alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C, cancer, and nonalcoholic steato-hepatitis. 1 “Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis” as the primary diagnosis accounted for more than 101,000 hospital admissions in 2010. 2 In 2013, it was reported as a leading cause of death in people ages 25 to 64 years, and the 12th leading Gabapentin (Neurontin) usually isn’t bad for your liver or kidneys. In most cases, it has little effect on these organs. In rare instances, gabapentin can cause DRESS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) syndrome. Gabapentin lacks liver metabolism; the mechanism by which it produces liver injury is still unknown; however, there are reports of hepatotoxicity associated with its administration, so its use must be individualized for each patient. Other serological investigations excluded viral hepatitis (negative IgM anti-hepatitis A, hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core and antibody to hepatitis C) and autoimmune hepatitis (negative antinuclear antibody and anti-smooth muscle antibody). A full blood count, renal profile, and liver ultrasound scan were also normal. Recent evidence suggests safety concerns associated with gabapentin including adverse neurologic effects. Individuals with hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, or AUD may be at increased risk due to comorbidities and potential medication interactions. Gabapentin / adverse effects Hepatitis* Humans gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / adverse effects (Review of spontaneous reports of adverse events attributed to gabapentin from a French registry [Fuzier 2013] identified 90 cases of liver damage, gabapentin being the only suspect drug in 10 cases of "hepatitis", one of which was fatal). Gabapentin is not hepatically metabolized, and therefore was not studied in patients with hepatic impairment during the FDA approval process. There have been very few cases of gabapentin induced liver injury. Histologically, acute hepatitis was seen in five cases, and chronic hepatitis was seen in one case. Gabapentin was reported to cause cholestasis in two case reports. Despite the small number of reported cases of hepatotoxicity, trazodone and gabapentin are known causes of liver injury, and clinicians should be aware of this possibility.
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