Drug-induced steatohepatitis

Abstract

Drugs rarely cause steatohepatitis, but amiodarone, perhexiline, and DH, have unequivocally been found to independently induce the histologic picture of alcoholic liver disease or NASH. All three agents have similar pathogenetic mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, targeting mitochondrial ATP production and fatty acid catabolism. Other drugs that occasionally cause steatohepatitis, most importantly steroid hormones, likely exacerbate the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to NASH. Similar to NASH, lipid peroxidation resulting from mitochondrial injury may account for all of the histologic findings in drug-induced steatohepatitis. Further research should determine the mechanisms by which drug-induced steatosis, a benign lesion, evolves to steatohepatitis and progressive fibrosis.