Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Resolution
Published on: April 16, 2019
Clinically significant liver injury in patients treated with natalizumab
S Bezabeh1, C M Flowers, C Kortepeter
1Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA. Shewit.Bezabeh@FDA.HHS.gov
Background:
Natalizumab is a recombinant monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis and patients with Crohn's disease. Because of its immunosuppressive effects, natalizumab has been associated with a number of atypical and opportunistic infections.
Aim:
To describe and summarize six spontaneously reported post-marketing cases of clinically significant drug induced-liver injury associated with natalizumab use.
Methods:
The FDA maintains a database of adverse event reports (AERS). We searched the AERS database for reports of serious liver injury associated with natalizumab use from November 2004, when the drug was approved, through 30 June 2008.
Results:
The search resulted in six spontaneously reported post-marketing cases of severe drug-induced liver injury. Four of six patients developed liver injury with elevations of serum transaminases and hyperbilirubinemia after only a single infusion of natalizumab. One of these patients experienced repeated increases of aminotransferases and bilirubin when natalizumab was re-administered.
Conclusions:
Serious hepatic injury may occur in association with natalizumab use. Health professionals should be alerted to possible serious liver injury in patients receiving natalizumab.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
