Distinction of autoimmune hepatitis from drug-induced autoimmune like hepatitis: The answer lies at the interface

Liver Injury Following Intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis: The Experience from a Single Academic Liver Center

Intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulses, widely used for managing multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations, can lead to acute liver injury, presenting a diagnostic challenge in distinguishing between drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis (DI-ALH) and idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This study aimed to delineate the clinical and biochemical features of IVMP-induced liver injury, discern its etiology, and evaluate the efficacy of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in treatment. A retrospective analysis of 13 relapsing MS patients with IVMP-induced liver injury was conducted. Liver injury was classified as hepatocellular, cholestatic, or mixed, with severity assessment guiding liver biopsy in selected cases. Causality was assessed using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) and the Simplified Diagnostic Criteria for AIH. All patients were initially monitored for a minimum of six months, with a mean follow-up period of 4.30 years. The median onset of liver injury was 37.46 days post-IVMP, with a mean peak alanine transaminase (ALT) level of 618.46 U/L. antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity was observed in 61.53% of cases, with elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) at 15.38%. Hepatocellular injury was universal among patients, and causality assessment predominantly supported DI-ALH. GC therapy was administered in six cases, achieving favorable outcomes in all but one, which necessitated rituximab. Biochemical normalization occurred within a mean of 55.41 days, with GC-treated patients recovering faster (48 days). These findings support the hypothesis that IVMP can induce hepatocellular injury, likely DI-ALH, during MS exacerbations. A tapering GC regimen proved effective in promoting recovery, particularly in severe cases. Additionally, this study introduced a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for managing IVMP-induced liver injury, offering a practical framework for clinical application.

Drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis: A disproportionality analysis based on the FAERS database

BACKGROUND

Drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis (DI-ALH) is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to acute liver failure and necessitate liver transplantation. While the association between certain drugs and DI-ALH has been documented, a comprehensive analysis of drug-related signals in a large, real-world pharmacovigilance database is lacking. This study aimed to systematically identify drugs linked to DI-ALH by analyzing adverse event reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

METHODS

We searched the FAERS database for the term "autoimmune hepatitis" and extracted DI-ALH reports from the first quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2024. Positive signal drugs were identified using Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean (EBGM). To confirm a significant drug-adverse event association, each method had to meet predefined thresholds: for PRR and ROR, values were considered significant if the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) was greater than 1 and at least three reports were identified; for BCPNN, an Information Component (IC025) greater than 0 indicated a signal; for EBGM, a value greater than 2 for the lower 95% confidence interval (EBGM05) was used to denote a positive signal.

RESULTS

A total of 5,723 DI-ALH reports were extracted from the FAERS database. Disproportionality analysis identified 50 drugs with strong associations to DI-ALH, with biologics, statins, antibiotics, and antiviral drugs representing the most common categories. Among these, nitrofurantoin (ROR 94.79, CI 78.53-114.41), minocycline (ROR 77.82, CI 65.09-93.05), and nivolumab (ROR 47.12, CI 15.06-147.39) exhibited the strongest signals. Additionally, several previously unreported drugs, including mesalazine, aldesleukin, onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi, and nefazodone, were identified as having strong associations with DI-ALH. These findings were consistent across all four signal detection methods, further validating the robustness of the associations.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of drugs associated with DI-ALH through a rigorous analysis of the FAERS database using multiple signal detection methods. By identifying both well-known and previously underreported drugs, this study contributes to a more complete understanding of drug-induced liver injury. The findings have important implications for pharmacovigilance strategies and clinical risk assessment. However, limitations inherent in the FAERS database, such as underreporting and the potential for reporting bias, should be considered. Further clinical validation is warranted to confirm these associations.