Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury as a Cause of New-Onset Jaundice

Idiosyncratic DILI was rare in a nonreferral population with new-onset jaundice.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has become an important health concern with a direct effect on drug development and drug availability in the U.S., but the epidemiology of DILI has not been evaluated in depth. In this retrospective study, researchers used a community-derived health database (based on the Regenstrief Medical Record System) to evaluate the etiology of new-onset jaundice and to determine how often it is caused by idiosyncratic DILI.

The study included 732 adult patients who presented from 1999 through 2003 with new-onset jaundice to an inner-city hospital or one of its associated primary care clinics located throughout Indianapolis. New-onset jaundice was defined as a total bilirubin level >3 mg/dL in patients without previous …

Reviewing Author

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH