Hepatic Adverse Drug Reactions Research Articles

Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Adverse Reactions in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients on Biologic and Conventional DMARDs

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which includes conventional synthetic (csDMARDs) and biologic (bDMARDs) agents, and are associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary systems. Objectives: In RA patients on combination of biologic and conventional DMARD therapies to identify risk factors associated with GI and hepatic ADRs. Methods: We conducted a multi-centre, observational, retrospective study of 500 RA patients treated with csDMARDs, bDMARDs, or in combination of both. Demographics, biomarkers and clinical profiles were collected. Patient characteristics, treatment types and ADR occurrence were monitored over 24 weeks and statistical analysis was performed to find a correlation between patient characteristics, treatment types, and the occurrence of ADRs. Significant associations were identified with logistic regression and chi-square tests. Results: 24.2% of patients had an ADR, with GI ADRs accounting for 16.6% and hepatic ADRs for 9.1%. Compared to csDMARDs, users (4.2%), bDMARDs users (13.8%) had hepatic ADRs more frequently (p < 0.01). High CRP levels decreased the risk of GI ADRs, but elevated IgG levels raised the risk of hepatic ADRs. Both ADR kinds were predicted by systemic symptoms. Conclusion: Biologic DMARDs present a higher risk of hepatic ADRs in RA patients compared to conventional DMARDs. Key predictors of ADRs include elevated IgG levels and systemic symptoms, underscoring the need for close monitoring of biomarkers and patient-reported symptoms to mitigate adverse events during DMARD therapy.

Genetic ancestry proportion influences risk of adverse events from tuberculosis treatment in Brazil.

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment is highly effective, but response to therapy can vary by geography, race, and ethnicity. We assessed for differences in TB treatment response in a representative and heterogeneous Brazilian population. We estimated genetic ancestry proportion according to major ancestry groups (African, European, and Amerindian ancestry) in the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT)-Brazil cohort. RePORT-Brazil is an observational prospective cohort study of individuals with newly-diagnosed, culture-confirmed, pulmonary TB. TB treatment outcomes that were attributed to TB treatment included Grade 2 or higher adverse drug reaction (ADR), Grade 3 or higher ADR, hepatic ADR, and failure/recurrence. Ancestry proportion was the main predictor in logistic regression for each outcome, with adjustments for candidate confounders. There were 941 pulmonary TB patients included in this study. We observed a decreased risk of Grade 2+ ADR when African ancestry proportion increased by 10% (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.41, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.20 -0.85) and an increased risk for Grade 2+ ADR with increasing European ancestry (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.47 - 5.48). We then performed the same analysis adding HIV status as an interaction term. The decreased risk for Grade 2+ ADR seen for African ancestry proportion did not hold for persons living with HIV; we observed increased risk for Grade 2+ ADR with increasing African ancestry proportion. There were no associations with Amerindian ancestry or for other treatment outcomes. In this Brazilian TB cohort, toxicity risk was associated with African and European ancestry, divergent, and affected by HIV. #RePORT-Brazil Consortium members include: Aline Benjamin and Flavia M. Sant'Anna Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Jamile Garcia de Oliveira and João Marine Clínica de Saúde Rinaldo Delmare, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Adriana Rezende and Anna Cristina Carvalho Secretaria de Saúde de Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Michael Rocha and Betânia Nogueira Instituto Brasileiro para Investigação da Tuberculose, Fundação José Silveira, Salvador, Brazil Alexandra Brito and Renata Spener Fundação Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil Megan Turner Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA.

Long-term hepatobiliary disorder associated with trastuzumab emtansine pharmacovigilance study using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is widely utilized as a second-line and subsequent treatment for metastatic HER2+ breast cancer and has shown promise in early breast cancer treatment, particularly in adjuvant settings for residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, concerns have arisen regarding long-term hepatic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) not identified in clinical trials. We investigated potential safety signals of T-DM1 in hepatobiliary disorders and the time-to-onset of ADRs using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Suspected ADRs were extracted and divided into two groups: T-DM1 (N = 3387) and other drugs (N = 11,833,701). Potential signal for T-DM1 in hepatobiliary disorder were identified (reporting odds ratio [ROR] = 5.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.11–6.27; information component [IC] = 2.35, 95% Credibility Interval [Crl] = 2.18–2.51). A breast cancer indicated subgroup analysis (2519 T-DM1; 172,329 other drugs) also identified a potential safety signal (ROR = 3.28, 95% CI = 2.92–3.68; IC = 1.53, 95%CrI = 1.35–1.71). The median time-to-onset for T-DM1-associated hepatobiliary disorders was 41 days. For prolonged and chronic hepatobiliary disorders, median times were 322.5 and 301.5 days, respectively. These findings highlight the need for further research to inform clinical decisions on optimal T-DM1 treatment duration, balancing benefits with potential adverse reactions.

Mechanistic Understanding of Dexamethasone-Mediated Protection against Remdesivir-Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Remdesivir (RDV), a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, is often used together with dexamethasone (DEX) for hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring respiratory support. Potential hepatic adverse drug reaction is a safety concern associated with the use of RDV. We previously reported that DEX cotreatment effectively mitigates RDV-induced hepatotoxicity and reduces elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in cultured human primary hepatocytes (HPH) and hospitalized COVID-19 patients, respectively. Yet, the precise mechanism behind this protective drug-drug interaction remains largely unknown. Here, we show that through the activation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling, RDV induces apoptosis (cleavage of caspases 8, 9, and 3), autophagy (increased autophagosome and LC3-II), and mitochondrial damages (decreased membrane potential, respiration, ATP levels, and increased expression of Bax and the released cytosolic cytochrome C) in HPH. Importantly, cotreatment with DEX partially reversed RDV-induced apoptosis, autophagy, and cell death. Mechanistically, DEX deactivates/dephosphorylates p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 signaling by enhancing the expression of dual specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase, in a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent manner. Knockdown of GR in HPH attenuates DEX-mediated DUSP1 induction, MAPK dephosphorylation, as well as protection against RDV-induced hepatotoxicity. Collectively, our findings suggest a molecular mechanism by which DEX modulates the GR-DUSP1-MAPK regulatory axis to alleviate the adverse actions of RDV in the liver. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The research uncovers the molecular mechanisms by which dexamethasone safeguards against remdesivir-associated liver damage in the context of COVID-19 treatment.

Remdesivir: A Review in COVID-19.

Remdesivir (Veklury®), a nucleotide analogue prodrug with broad-spectrum antiviral activity, is approved for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 infection. Unlike some antivirals, remdesivir has a low potential for drug-drug interactions. In the pivotal ACTT-1 trial in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, daily intravenous infusions of remdesivir significantly reduced time to recovery relative to placebo. Subsequent trials provided additional support for the efficacy of remdesivir in hospitalized patients with moderate or severe COVID-19, with a greater benefit seen in patients with minimal oxygen requirements at baseline. Clinical trials also demonstrated the efficacy of remdesivir in other patient populations, including outpatients at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, as well as hospitalized paediatric patients. In terms of mortality, results were equivocal. However, remdesivir appeared to have a small mortality benefit in hospitalized patients who were not already being ventilated at baseline. Remdesivir was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, but pharmacovigilance data found an increased risk of hepatic, renal and cardiovascular adverse drug reactions in the real-world setting. In conclusion, remdesivir represents a useful treatment option for patients with COVID-19, particularly those who require supplemental oxygen.

Encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab in BRAF V600E–mutated colorectal cancer: an early post-marketing phase vigilance study

BackgroundTriplet and doublet regimens of encorafenib plus cetuximab with and without binimetinib, respectively, were approved in Japan for unresectable, metastatic, BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal cancer (mCRC) that had progressed after 1–2 prior chemotherapies. This early post-marketing phase vigilance (EPPV) study collected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from Japanese patients to ensure safety measures as appropriate.MethodsPatients with BRAF V600E mCRC who received the triplet or doublet regimens in Japan were selected for this study. ADRs were collected as spontaneous reports between November 27, 2020 and May 26, 2021. Serious ADRs were evaluated according to guidelines of the International Council for Harmonisation and the EudraVigilance list of Important Medical Event Terms.ResultsAn estimated 550 Japanese patients with mCRC received the triplet or doublet regimens during the 6-month EPPV period. Overall, 101 and 42 patients reported ADRs and serious ADRs, respectively. No ADRs leading to death were reported. The most frequently reported ADRs were nausea (17 patients), serous retinal detachment (16), decreased appetite (12), diarrhea (11), and vomiting (11). Among the important identified/potential risks that are defined in the risk management plans for encorafenib and binimetinib, eye disorder-related ADRs were observed in 32 patients, rhabdomyolysis-related ADRs in 12, hemorrhage-related ADRs in 7, and hepatic dysfunction-related ADRs in 7. Of 22 patients with serious eye disorders, 20 recovered or were recovering during the EPPV period.ConclusionThe safety profile in this EPPV study was similar to that from the phase III BEACON CRC study and no new safety concerns were identified.

Drug-induced liver injury in Switzerland: an analysis of drug-related hepatic disorders in the WHO pharmacovigilance database VigiBase from 2010 to 2020.

Our aim was to explore drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in Switzerland using the real-world data of the global pharmacovigilance database VigiBaseÔ, with a special focus on the new drug class of checkpoint inhibitors. This is the first study investigating drug-related hepatic disorders in Switzerland in a global pharmacovigilance database. This was a retrospective study analysing the ICSRs (individual case safety reports) of the global pharmacovigilance database VigiBaseÔ. We explored all ICSRs submitted in Switzerland within the last 10 years (1 July 2010 to 30 June 2020). For data extraction, the standardised MedDRA query (SMQ) “narrow drug-related hepatic disorders – severe events only” was applied. The ICSRs, drug-reaction pairs and adverse drug reactions were analysed descriptively, including a special focus on checkpoint inhibitors. For comparing the hepatic adverse drug reactions of pembrolizumab, nivolumab and ipilimumab, the reporting odds ratios (RORs) were calculated in a disproportionality analysis. In total, 2042 ICSRs could be investigated, comprising 10,646 drugs and 6436 adverse drug reactions. Gender was equally distributed between male and female. Patients were on average 57 years old. The mortality rate was high, with fatal adverse reactions in over 10% of cases. On average, patients used five drugs including two suspected drugs. Paracetamol, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, esomeprazole and atorvastatin ranked among the most frequently suspected drugs for severe drug-related hepatic disorders. However, VigibaseÔ data are not appropriate for judging causality and these results should be interpreted with caution owing to the possible influences of comedication or comorbidity. An average of three adverse drug reactions per ICSR were reported, most frequently including hepatocellular injury, cholestatic liver injury, and liver injury. For checkpoint inhibitors, hepatitis was the most frequently reported hepatic adverse drug reaction. In comparison with nivolumab and ipilimumab, pembrolizumab had a significantly higher ROR for hepatitis (2.41, p = 0.016), but also a lower ROR for autoimmune hepatitis (0.11, p = 0.009). Our findings highlight the importance for healthcare providers in Switzerland to pay special attention to possible drug-induced liver injuries because of their high mortality rate. The analysis of real-world data confirms the previous assumption that hepatitis is the most frequent hepatic adverse event for checkpoint inhibitors. Further clinical studies are warranted to directly compare hepatic adverse drug reactions to different checkpoint inhibitors.

Real‐world safety of the novel, free radical scavenger edaravone for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: Data from the post‐marketing surveillance SUNRISE Japan

AbstractBackgroundTreatment options for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are limited. SUNRISE Japan is an ongoing post‐marketing surveillance evaluating the long‐term efficacy and safety of edaravone, a novel neuroprotectant agent, and free radical scavenger, in patients with ALS.AimThis study aims to describe the real‐word safety results of ALS patients enrolled in SUNRISE Japan.MethodsPatients diagnosed with ALS and prescribed edaravone for the first time during the surveillance period were included. Patients were prescribed edaravone according to the prescribing information. The incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported up to 1 year of follow‐up was evaluated.ResultsOf 805 patients enrolled up to April 2020, 800 were included in the safety analysis set. Patients had a mean age of 66.3 years, 55.1% were male, and they had a mean disease duration of 1.8 years. In total, 97 patients (12.1%) reported at least one ADR, with a total of 148 ADR events reported. Thirty patients (3.8%) reported at least one serious ADR with a total of 42 serious ADR events reported. Hepatic function abnormal was the most frequently reported ADR, with an incidence of 4.4% (35/800). A higher incidence of ADRs was observed in patients with percent forced vital capacity ≥80%, and those with previous/concomitant treatment with riluzole.ConclusionIn this surveillance study, hepatic ADRs were the most frequently reported events. These ADRs have also been reported previously in patients receiving standard therapy. No new safety concerns were raised with real‐world use of edaravone.

Plasma Concentrations and Safety of Lopinavir/Ritonavir in COVID-19 Patients.

Background:Although the efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir has not been proven, it has been proposed as an off-label treatment for COVID-19. Previously, it has been reported that the plasma concentrations of lopinavir significantly increase in inflammatory settings. As COVID-19 may be associated with major inflammation, assessing the plasma concentrations and safety of lopinavir in COVID-19 patients is essential.Methods:Real-world COVID-19 data based on a retrospective study.Results:Among the 31 COVID-19 patients treated with lopinavir/ritonavir between March 18, 2020 and April 1, 2020, higher lopinavir plasma concentrations were observed, which increased by 4.6-fold (interquartile range: 3.6–6.2), compared with the average plasma concentrations in HIV. Lopinavir concentrations in all except one patient were above the upper limit of the concentration range of HIV treatment. Approximately one to 5 patients prematurely stopped treatment mainly because of an ADR related to hepatic or gastrointestinal disorders.Conclusions:Lopinavir plasma concentrations in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 were higher than expected, and they were associated with the occurrence of hepatic or gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions. However, a high plasma concentration may be required for in vivo antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by previous studies. Therefore, in the absence of adverse drug reaction, lopinavir dosage should not be reduced. Caution is essential because off-label use can be associated with a new drug safety profile.

Safety of Pyrazinamide for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in Older Patients Over 75 Years of Age: A Retrospective Monocentric Cohort Study.

Pyrazinamide (PZA) has a controversial safety profile in older patients. We aimed to assess the frequency and risk factors for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients over 75 years of age treated for tuberculosis with or without PZA. We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including patients aged over 75years treated for active tuberculosis between 2008 and 2018. The frequency, type, seriousness, and causality assessment of ADRs to anti-tuberculosis treatment were compared between patients receiving PZA or not. Risk factors for ADRs were investigated using univariable and multivariable analyses by logistic regression. Among the 110 patients included, 54 (49.1%) received PZA (group 1) and 56 (50.9%) did not (group 2). ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs occurred in 31 patients (57.4%) in groups 1 and 15 (26.8%) in group 2 (p=0.003). PZA-related ADRs occurred in 40.7% of exposed patients. Frequency of renal ADRs was higher in group 1 (9.3% vs 0%; p=0.026). Rates of hepatic (18.5% vs 12.5%; p=0.38), digestive (22.2% vs 8.9%; p=0.054), and allergic (14.8% vs 5.4%; p=0.12) ADRs were numerically higher in group 1 although the differences were not statistically significant. Serious ADRs occurred more frequently in group 1 (24.1% vs 8.9%; p=0.03). The use of PZA was the only independent risk factor for ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs (odds ratio 3.75, 95% CI 1.5-9.6; p=0.0056). No risk factors for PZA-related ADRs were identified. In older French patients, the use of PZA was associated with more frequent ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Hepatic adverse drug reactions in Malaysia: An 18‐year review of the national centralized reporting system

To determine the incidence, demographic profile, background of reporters, causative agents, severity and clinical outcomes of hepatic adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in Malaysia using the national ADR reporting database. The ADR reports recorded between 2000 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed to identify hepatic ADR reports. The trend and characteristics of hepatic ADR cases were described. Multivariate disproportionality analysis of the causative agents was performed to generate signals of hepatic ADRs. A total of 2090 hepatic ADRs (1.77% of all ADRs) were reported with mortality rate of 12.7% among cases with known clinical outcomes. The incidence of hepatic ADR reporting in Malaysia increased significantly over 18 years from 0.26 to 9.45 per million population (P < .001). Antituberculosis drugs (n = 268, 12.82%) was the most common suspected class of causative agents with a reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% CI of 8.39 (7.26-9.70), followed by traditional/complementary medicines or herbal/dietary supplements (TCM/HDS) (n = 235, 11.24%, ROR 3.26 [2.84-3.75]), systemic antibacterials (n = 159, 7.61%, ROR 2.65 [2.25-3.13]), lipid modifying agents (n = 142, 6.79%, ROR 2.21 [1.86-2.63]) and amiodarone (n = 137, 6.56%, ROR 35.25 [28.40-43.75]). Most (72.9%) of the TCM/HDS were not registered with the authorities. Hepatic ADR cases have increased significantly in Malaysia, with antituberculosis drugs, systemic antibacterials, and TCM/HDS being the most common causative agents reported. Most TCM/HDS reported to be associated with hepatic ADR were not registered with the authorities.

Evaluation of 3 Months of Once-Weekly Rifapentine and Isoniazid for Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

Background: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 3 months of once-weekly rifapentine/isoniazid (3HP) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment given by directly observed therapy (DOT) or self-administered therapy (SAT) in patients ≥2 years old. 3HP has been associated with increased incidence of hepatic, gastrointestinal, flu-like, and cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) compared with isoniazid monotherapy. Objective: This study evaluated 3HP completion rates and tolerability for LTBI treatment in a real-world setting. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort with a nested case-control study, comparing patients experiencing ADRs with those who did not, evaluated patients ≥18 years old receiving 3HP by DOT or SAT for LTBI at Cleveland Clinic from October 2011 through July 2018. Information on baseline characteristics, 3HP administrations, and ADRs were collected. Results: Of 199 patients screened, 144 were included (111 DOT, 33 SAT). 3HP completion rates were high at 82.6% and similar between DOT and SAT groups. During treatment, 92/144 (63.9%) patients experienced any ADR. The most common ADR included flu-like symptoms (38.2%) and gastrointestinal (31.9%) and hepatic (2.1%) reactions. Despite high rate of overall ADRs, rates of significant ADRs (grade 2 or higher) were 4.2%. Overall, 9% of patients discontinued 3HP because of ADRs. After adjusting for other factors associated with ADRs at baseline, SAT was not associated with increased incidence of ADRs, but female sex was a significant predictor (odds ratio = 2.61 [95% CI, 1.23 to 5.56]). Conclusion and Relevance: This study observed high 3HP treatment completion rates, low incidence of significant ADRs, and low discontinuation rates resulting from ADRs.

Safety and effectiveness of daclatasvir and asunaprevir dual therapy in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C: results from postmarketing surveillance in Japan.

Safety and effectiveness of daclatasvir (DCV)/asunaprevir (ASV) dual therapy were demonstrated in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype (GT) 1b in phase III studies. This postmarketing surveillance (PMS) was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of DCV/ASV in Japanese patients with GT-1 CHC treated in routine clinical practice. This PMS was conducted between September 2014 and February 2017 at 261 centers in Japan. Patients with GT-1 CHC with or without compensated cirrhosis starting DCV and ASV dual therapy were observed from treatment initiation until 24weeks after completing treatment. Safety and effectiveness assessments included incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and sustained viral response (SVR) rates at 24weeks (SVR24). Of 2820 patients (median age, 71.0years; ≥ 65years, 73.1%; female, 56.1%; with compensated cirrhosis, 39.1%) in the safety population, 726 (25.7%) experienced 1063 ADRs and 47 (1.7%) experienced 55 serious ADRs. Overall, 532 hepatic ADRs were reported; most hepatic ADRs occurred between > 4 and ≤ 12weeks after treatment initiation. Subgroup analysis showed a higher incidence of ADRs in female, elderly, underweight, and renal function-impaired patients. SVR24 and SVR at 12weeks (SVR12) were 87.3% (2216/2538) and 88.4% (2284/2584), respectively. Patients without (SVR12, 89.1%; SVR24, 87.9%) and with (SVR12, 87.3%; SVR24, 86.3%) compensated cirrhosis had similar SVR rates. Results from this large PMS indicate that DCV and ASV dual therapy is generally well tolerated and effective in routine clinical practice in Japanese patients with GT-1 CHC with or without compensated cirrhosis.

Factores de riesgo asociados a reacción adversa hepática por fármacos de primera línea contra Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Epidemiological control of tuberculosis (TB) requires a highly efficient therapy, to be able to eliminate transmission of tuberculosis. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) contribute to decrease the efficiency of treatment. Hepatic ADR is the most feared and can become fatal and has been related to risk factors such as advanced age, female gender, non-caucasian ethnic groups, characteristics of enzymatic metabolism of drugs, drug associations, presence of hepatitis B, C and HIV virus infections, malnutrition, kidney transplants, pregnancy, puerperium and alcohol consumption. There are no guidelines for monitoring liver function on a regular basis. Therefore a close monitoring of the appearance of symptoms suggestive of liver toxicity is recommended. In some conditions of high risk of hepatic ADR, clinical judgment could indicate the biochemical monitoring of liver function.

Long-term safety profile of tolvaptan in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients: TEMPO Extension Japan Trial.

AimThe aim of this trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01280721) was to investigate the long-term safety profile of tolvaptan in Japanese patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).MethodsThis open-label multicenter trial was conducted to examine adverse drug reactions (ADRs) related to tolvaptan up to an additional 3 years in 135 Japanese patients who participated in the Tolvaptan Efficacy and Safety in Management of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and its Outcomes (TEMPO) 3:4 trial at doses of 60–120 mg/d. Blood samples were collected at baseline; at weeks 1, 2, and 3; at month 3; and every 3 months thereafter.ResultsIn total, 134/135 (>99%) patients experienced ADRs. The most frequent ADRs were thirst (77.0%), pollakiuria (57.0%), polyuria (37.8%), and hyperuricemia (14.8%). Any unexpected ADRs were not reported in this trial. Most ADRs occurred early during treatment. Fourteen patients (10.4%) experienced hepatic events, and 8 (5.9%) experienced >3-fold increases above the upper limits of normal in serum alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase levels between 3 and 9 months following tolvaptan initiation, which recovered after drug interruption. Of the 8 patients, 7 (5.2%) were previously allocated to the placebo arm in the TEMPO 3:4 trial and 4 (3.0%) discontinued due to the hepatic events. One patient (0.7%) was previously allocated to tolvaptan and experienced similar events in the TEMPO 3:4 trial. None of the hepatic ADRs met Hy’s Law laboratory criteria.ConclusionADRs observed in this extension trial were similar to those identified in the TEMPO 3:4 trial and hepatic events were not progressive.

Clinical Features of Regorafenib-induced Liver Injury in Japanese Patients From Postmarketing Experience

BackgroundRegorafenib (Stivarga) is an oral multikinase inhibitor currently approved for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer or gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Although hepatotoxicity has been a known product profile feature of regorafenib since its initial approval, its clinical features are limited to those found in the clinical trials. Patients and MethodsThe present study was conducted in 2 analysis sets: a safety analysis set for metastatic colorectal cancer from solicited postmarketing surveillance (PMS) in Japan (n = 1227) and an analysis set for serious hepatic adverse drug reactions (n = 210) from all patients registered for regorafenib use. ResultsThe features of liver injury compatible with current product labeling included the second cycle as the most frequently observed time to onset, hepatocellular type as the typical pattern of liver injury, idiosyncratic occurrence as the possible mechanism, and rare fatal outcomes (0.33%; 4 of 1227). In addition to the known features, the present study found unpredictability in the outcome of hepatic events using the onset values of liver chemistry tests and delayed improvement of hepatic parameters after drug withdrawal. Owing to multiple confounding factors in patients with advanced cancer, difficulty remains in the interpretation of exploration for background factors and evaluation using Hy’s law in oncology products. ConclusionRegorafenib-induced liver injury can be considered idiosyncratic and typically of hepatocellular type, with fatal outcomes rare. Early recognition and timely drug withdrawal are the most important strategies to prevent progression to severe outcomes. At occurrence, careful observation until improvement and monitoring for fulminant hepatic failure are also essential.

A comprehensive study of the association between drug hepatotoxicity and daily dose, liver metabolism, and lipophilicity using 975 oral medications.

It was recently suggested that daily dose, liver metabolism and lipophilicity were associated with an oral drug's potential to cause hepatotoxicity, but this has not been widely accepted. A likely reason is that published data lack comprehensiveness, as they were based on only about one third of all FDA approved single-active-ingredient oral prescription drugs. Here the 975 oral drugs used worldwide which have a Defined Daily Dose (DDD) designated in the World Health Organization's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system and whose hADRs potential and metabolism data are available in the Micromedex Drugdex® compendium were studied, with their lipophilicity calculated by the partition coefficient LogP. Of the 975 drugs examined, 49% (478) have the potential to induce at least one type of hepatic adverse drug reactions (hADRs) such as fatal hepatotoxicity, acute liver failure, significant ALT/AST elevation, hepatitis, and jaundice. By single factor analysis, a higher DDD (≥100 mg) was found to be associated with all types of hADRs, and extensive liver metabolism (≥50%) was associated with a subset of hADRs including fatal hADRs, hepatitis and jaundice, while LogP showed no relation to any types of hADRs. Contrary to previous reports, none of the combination, neither DDD and liver metabolism, nor DDD and LogP, was found to be more predictive of hADRs than using DDD or liver metabolism alone. These data provide convincing evidence that a higher daily dose and extensive liver metabolism, but not lipophilicity, are independent but not synergistic risk factors for oral drugs to induce hepatotoxicity.

Preventable and potentially preventable serious adverse reactions induced by oral protein kinase inhibitors through a database of adverse drug reaction reports.

Antineoplastic drugs are one of the pharmacological classes more frequently involved in occurrence of "serious" adverse drug reactions. However, few epidemiological data are available regarding the preventability of adverse drug reactions with ambulatory cancer chemotherapy. We assessed the rate and characteristics of "preventable" or "potentially preventable" "serious" adverse drug reactions induced by oral protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs). We performed a retrospective study with all "serious" adverse drug reactions (ADRs) recorded from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009 in the French Pharmacovigilance Database with the eight oral protein kinase inhibitors marketed in France: sorafenib, imatinib, erlotinib, sunitinib, dasatinib, lapatinib, nilotinib and everolimus (Afinitor®) using the French adverse drug reactions preventability scale. This study was carried out on 265 spontaneous notifications. Most of adverse drug reactions were "unpreventable" (63.8%). Around one third were "unevaluable" due to notifications poorly documented (medical history, dosage, use of drugs as first or second intention, concomitant drugs). One (0.4%) adverse drug reaction was "preventable" with dasatinib (subdural hematoma) and three (1.1%) were "potentially preventable" (hepatic adverse drug reactions): two with imatinib and one with sorafenib. For these four cases, we identified some characteristics: incorrect dosages, drug interactions and off-label uses. An appropriate prescription could avoid the occurrence of 1.5% "serious" adverse drug reactions with oral PKIs. This rate is low and further studies are needed to compare our results by using other preventability instruments and to improve the French ADRs Preventability Scale.

Female gender as a susceptibility factor for drug-induced liver injury

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can involve all tissues and organs, but liver injuries are considered among the most serious. A number of prospective, multicenter studies have confirmed a higher risk of ADRs in general among female subjects compared to a male cohort. Although drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is infrequently encountered, the preponderance of evidence suggests that women appear to be more susceptible than men to fulminate hepatic/acute liver failure especially in response to some anti-infective drugs and to autoimmune-like hepatitis following exposure to certain other therapeutic drugs. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain this sex difference in susceptibility to DILI. Collectively, these hypotheses suggest three basic sex-dependent mechanisms that include differences in various aspects of drug pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics following the administration of certain drugs; specific hormonal effects or interactions with immunomodulating agents or signaling molecules; and differences in the adverse response of the immune system to some drugs, reactive drug metabolites, or drug-protein adducts. At the preclinical drug safety stage, there is a need for more research on hormonal effects on drug PK and for additional research on gender differences in aberrant immune responses that may lead to idiosyncratic DILI in some female patients. Because the detection of rare but serious hepatic ADRs requires the exposure of very large patient populations, pharmacovigilance networks will continue to play a key role in the postmarketing surveillance for their detection and reporting.

Is spontaneous reporting always the most important information supporting drug withdrawals for pharmacovigilance reasons in France?

The objective of our study was to determine the nature of scientific evidence leading to drug withdrawal for safety reasons in France (between 2005 and 2011). Drugs (i.e., active ingredients) withdrawn were identified from the Web site of the French Health Products Agency. Additional information allowed us to classify these withdrawals according to the nature of evidence as clinical trials (CT), case reports/case series (CR/CS), case-control studies (CC), cohort, animal, or observational studies. A total of 22 active ingredients were withdrawn from the French market between 2005 and 2011. The nature and type of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) leading more frequently to drug withdrawal were cardiovascular (10-fold), neurological (5-fold), or hepatic, cutaneous, or psychiatric (3-fold each) ADRs. CR (19/22; 86.4%) and CT (13/22; 59.1%) were the most frequently involved methods. In 5 of 22 (23%) cases, CR were the sole evidence. However, 68% (15/22) of regulatory decisions were based on multiple sources of evidence: For example, data from CR + CT were used in eight cases. CC or cohort studies were used in only five cases. This study underlines that spontaneous reporting remained the most important source of drug withdrawals between 2005 and 2011. However, its relative importance decreased in comparison with that in 1997-2004. The importance of pharmacoepidemiological methods slightly increased but remained low. Finally, regulatory authorities seem to have more frequently based their safety decisions on multiple sources of evidence than before.