HEPATOTOXICITY OF DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

Hepatic injury from agents in this category is rare. For example, only a handful of cases of H2-receptor antagonist-related liver injury hav e been reported despite the hundreds of millions of doses prescribed s ince the introduction of these drugs more than 15 years ago. Hepatotox icity from sulfasalazine is uncommon but may be fatal. Injury from oth er agents used to treat inflammatory bowel disease also may be seen, i ncluding veno-occlusive disease from azathioprine. Of increasing impor tance is the toxicity from alternative health supplements, such as her bal remedies, that may cause acute, sometimes fatal, hepatic necrosis.