NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG-INDUCED HEPATIC DISORDERS - INCIDENCE AND PREVENTION

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most frequen tly used medications worldwide for the treatment of a variety of commo n chronic and acute inflammatory conditions. The association between N SAIDs and liver disease is poorly documented, the exceptions being sul indac and, to a lesser degree, diclofenac. The incidence of liver dise ase is very low and is relatively unimportant compared with the risk o f peptic ulcer disease and gastrointestinal bleeding. Reports of hepat ic injury range from insignificant and transient liver enzyme elevatio n to severe and fulminant hepatitis.