Liver assessment in patients with osteoarthritis taking non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs mainly [diclofenac acid] within two to six weeks of treatment

ABSTRACT

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] are used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, inflammation and to control pain. Virtually all [NSAIDs] are capable of producing liver injury ranging from mild reversible elevation of liver enzymes to severe hepatic failure. To estimate the hepatic risk associated with the use of some NSAIDs. 80 osteoarthritis patients were on diclofenac acid [voltarin] tablets 75 mg, 60 of them were female and 20 were male, laboratory estimateion of serum alkaline aminotransferase [ALT], serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST], serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total serum bilirubin [TSB] were done. For comparison age and sex matched 96 apparently healthy persons serve as controls. 27 [33.75%] of the diclofenac treated patients had some impairment of liver function tests, 66.6% of the liver injury found in patients aged more than 50 years and 88.8% had occurred in females. Hepatocelluar injury characterizes most USAIDs induced hepatotoxicity. The frequency of drug induced liver injury [DILI] in diclofenac treated patients is about 33.75%. DILI is more common in females and old age