Severe isoniazid-associated liver injuries among persons being treated for latent tuberculosis infection - United States, 2004-2008. 2010


Since the 1960s, 6 to 9 months of isoniazid (INH) has been the mainstay of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but its application has been limited by concerns about the toxicity of INH and the long duration of treatment. To quantify the frequency of severe adverse events (SAEs) associated with LTBI treatment and to characterize the clinical features of affected patients, in January 2004 CDC began a national project to monitor SAEs associated with treatment for LTBI. State health departments were encouraged to report SAEs associated with any LTBI treatment regimen to a passive surveillance system. This report summarizes the results for 2004-2008, when 17 SAEs in 15 adults and two children (aged 11 and 14 years) were reported. All patients had received INH therapy and had experienced severe liver injury. Five patients, including one child, underwent liver transplantation. Five adults died, including one liver transplant recipient. These findings underscore the risk for an idiosyncratic drug-induced reaction in patients of any age treated with INH, including those with or without a putative predictor for INH-associated liver injury. Patients receiving INH for LTBI therapy should be monitored according to American Thoracic Society (ATS)/CDC recommendations because of the risk for drug-induced hepatoxicity. Providers should counsel patients to terminate INH therapy promptly and seek medical attention if they experience signs and symptoms of illness.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007538 Isoniazid Antibacterial agent used primarily as a tuberculostatic. It remains the treatment of choice for tuberculosis. Isonicotinic Acid Hydrazide,Ftivazide,Isonex,Isonicotinic Acid Vanillylidenehydrazide,Phthivazid,Phthivazide,Tubazide,Acid Vanillylidenehydrazide, Isonicotinic,Hydrazide, Isonicotinic Acid,Vanillylidenehydrazide, Isonicotinic Acid
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002487 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. An agency of the UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE that conducts and supports programs for the prevention and control of disease and provides consultation and assistance to health departments and other countries. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,CDC,CDCP,Center for Disease Control,Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Centers for Disease Control,Centers for Disease Control (U.S.),Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.),Centers for Disease Control, U.S.,United States Centers for Disease Control
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000995 Antitubercular Agents Drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis. They are divided into two main classes: "first-line" agents, those with the greatest efficacy and acceptable degrees of toxicity used successfully in the great majority of cases; and "second-line" drugs used in drug-resistant cases or those in which some other patient-related condition has compromised the effectiveness of primary therapy. Anti-Tuberculosis Agent,Anti-Tuberculosis Agents,Anti-Tuberculosis Drug,Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs,Antitubercular Agent,Antitubercular Drug,Tuberculostatic Agent,Tuberculostatic Agents,Antitubercular Drugs,Agent, Anti-Tuberculosis,Agent, Antitubercular,Agent, Tuberculostatic,Anti Tuberculosis Agent,Anti Tuberculosis Agents,Anti Tuberculosis Drug,Anti Tuberculosis Drugs,Drug, Anti-Tuberculosis,Drug, Antitubercular
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D016031 Liver Transplantation The transference of a part of or an entire liver from one human or animal to another. Grafting, Liver,Hepatic Transplantation,Liver Transplant,Transplantation, Hepatic,Transplantation, Liver,Hepatic Transplantations,Liver Grafting,Liver Transplantations,Liver Transplants,Transplant, Liver

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