[Acute hepatitis induced by valsartan]

Drug-Induced Liver Injury From Sacubitril-Valsartan Versus a Single Dose of Acarbose

Numerous known medications can induce liver injury. Sacubitril-valsartan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for use in patients with chronic heart failure to reduce the rate of cardiovascular death and hospitalizations related to heart failure. There are yet to be any reported cases of drug-induced liver injury secondary to sacubitril-valsartan use. Acarbose is well known to be associated with liver failure, but typically liver injury occurs months after initiation of therapy. Here, we report the case of a 76-year-old woman who developed acute liver failure after one month of sacubitril-valsartan use and one day after being prescribed acarbose.

Long-Term Safety of a Novel Angiotensin Receptor Blocker, Fimasartan, According to the Absence or Presence of Underlying Liver Disease in Korean Hypertensive Patients: A Prospective, 12-Month, Observational Study

Purpose

Fimasartan, the ninth and most recent angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration, has shown similar efficacy and safety profiles compared to other ARBs. However, due to being predominantly excreted by the hepatobiliary system, concerns on safety have been raised regarding its use in patients with underlying liver disease.

Patients and Methods

This prospective, 12-month, observational study evaluated patients with essential hypertension (HTN) receiving ≥1 dose of fimasartan. Self-reported and physician-reported events were recorded and classified according to organ class and severity. Outcomes were compared according to the absence and presence of underlying liver disease.

Results

A total of 601 patients were screened, and 566 patients who met predefined inclusion criteria were grouped according to the presence of underlying liver disease. Adverse events (AE) were reported in 28.7% (128/446) of patients without prior liver disease, while 42.5% (51/120) experienced events in the group with chronic liver disease. There was no difference in discontinuations due to liver function between patients with and without baseline liver disease (1.1% [5] vs 2.5% [3], p=0.376), and only a non-significant increase was observed in events associated to the hepatobiliary system in patients with chronic liver disease (9.7% [7] vs 2.7% [9], p=0.061). There were no deaths or serious adverse drug reactions (SADR) during the study period. In multivariate regression analysis, the presence of chronic liver disease (OR 2.01), female sex (OR 1.49) and old age (OR 1.12 for every 5-year increase) were independent predictors for the development of AE. Finally, no significant difference was observed in the reduction of systolic blood pressure after 12 months of treatment (least square mean change −6.57 ± 0.80 mmHg for normal liver function group; −7.65 ± 1.59 mmHg for chronic liver disease group; p=0.546).

Conclusion

Long-term use of fimasartan for treatment of HTN was associated with a low rate of adverse events overall, especially in the absence of underlying liver disease. Even for patients with chronic liver disease, fimasartan treatment was well tolerated. Fimasartan could be a safe option for long-term treatment of essential HTN. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02385721.

Angiotensin II protects primary rat hepatocytes against bile salt-induced apoptosis

Angiotensin II (AT-II) is a pro-fibrotic compound that acts via membrane-bound receptors (AT-1R/AT-2R) and thereby activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). AT-II receptor blockers (ARBs) are thus important candidates in the treatment of liver fibrosis. However, multiple case reports suggest that AT-1R blockers may induce hepatocyte injury. Therefore, we investigated the effect of AT-II and its receptor blockers on cytokine-, oxidative stress- and bile salt-induced cell death in hepatocytes. Primary rat hepatocytes were exposed to TNF-α/Actinomycin D, the ROS-generating agent menadione or the bile salts: glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) and tauro-lithocholic acid-3 sulfate (TLCS), to induce apoptosis. AT-II (100 nmol/L) was added 10 minutes prior to the cell death-inducing agent. AT-1R antagonists (Sartans) and the AT-2R antagonist PD123319 were used at 1 µmol/L. Apoptosis (caspase-3 activity, acridine orange staining) and necrosis (Sytox green staining) were quantified. Expression of CHOP (marker for ER stress) and AT-II receptor mRNAs were quantified by Q-PCR. AT-II dose-dependently reduced GCDCA-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes (−50%, p<0.05) without inducing necrosis. In addition, AT-II reduced TLCS-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes (−50%, p<0.05). However, AT-II did not suppress TNF/Act-D and menadione-induced apoptosis. Only the AT-1R antagonists abolished the protective effect of AT-II against GCDCA-induced apoptosis. AT-II increased phosphorylation of ERK and a significant reversal of the protective effect of AT-II was observed when signaling kinases, including ERK, were inhibited. Moreover, AT-II prevented the GCDCA-induced expression of CHOP (the marker of the ER-mediated apoptosis).

[Biliary stenosis, hepatitis A and valsartan: multifactorial hepatotoxicity in a surgical patient]

We present the case of a male patient with a history of hypertension who developed acute lithiasic cholecystitis. Shortly before the patient's admission, valsartan was prescribed to control his blood pressure. Surgery was performed without complications, but during the immediate postoperative period he developed marked jaundice, light colored stools, dark urine, and malaise. A cholangiogram showed a mild stricture of the common bile duct, and laboratory analyses revealed IgM antibodies against hepatitis A virus. Moreover, the patient reported the he continued to take valsartan. The patient improved with conservative treatment without any further complaints. In patients with jaundice after biliary surgery, exhaustive studies must be carried out before reintervention is performed, including investigation of the administration of drugs with potential hepatotoxic effects.

Cholestatic hepatitis related to use of irbesartan: a case report and a literature review of angiotensin II antagonist-associated hepatotoxicity

We report a patient who developed cholestatic hepatitis shortly after starting therapy with irbesartan, one of the new, recently marketed angiotensin II antagonists. Serological studies and ultrasonography ruled out viral hepatitis and extrahepatic obstructive jaundice, respectively. A percutaneous liver biopsy showed a portal inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils and marked cholestatic features in the perivenular area. Irbesartan was discontinued and the patient's jaundice resolved slowly over a period of several weeks, although mild biochemical cholestasis lasted for more than 1 year. There have been seven prior cases of angiotensin II antagonist-induced hepatotoxicity reported in the literature. A class warning for hepatotoxicity for these compounds should probably be considered.