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Hepatotoxicity Induced by Azole Antifungal Agents: A Review Study
Amin Rakhshan1, Bardia Rahmati Kamel2, Ali Saffaei1
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Context:
Fungal infections are very common, and several medications are used to treat them. Azoles are prescribed widely to treat fungal infections. In addition to therapeutic effects, any drug can be accompanied by side effects in patients. One of the most important complications in this regard is liver injury. Therefore, hepatotoxicity induced by azole antifungal drugs were reviewed in this study.
Evidence Acquisition:
English scientific papers were evaluated to review the effects of hepatotoxicity by azole antifungal agents, and the related studies' results were summarized using a table. The systematic search was implemented on electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Original articles and review articles that were published before April 1, 2022, were included in the study. Those articles without available full text or non-English articles were excluded. Also, articles that reported pediatric data were excluded.
Results:
Most studies have reported the effects of hepatotoxicity by azole antifungal agents, and their mechanisms have been described.
Conclusions:
Clinical evaluations regarding the hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents provided in the literature were reviewed. Therefore, it is recommended to prescribe these drugs with caution in high-risk patients suffering from liver diseases, and patients should be monitored for hepatotoxicity. However, more research is needed to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of azole antifungal agents and select appropriate drugs according to cost-effectiveness and the side effects' profiles, relying on lower incidence of this liver complication.
Insights
Azole antifungal drugs can cause liver injury. This review summarizes studies on azole antifungal-induced hepatotoxicity, recommending cautious use and monitoring in patients with liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Pharmacology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Fungal infections are prevalent, with azole antifungals being a common treatment.
- Drug-induced liver injury is a significant concern, particularly with azole antifungal agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and summarize the existing literature on hepatotoxicity induced by azole antifungal drugs.
- To consolidate findings on the effects and mechanisms of azole antifungal-induced liver injury.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct.
- English scientific papers published before April 1, 2022, were included; full-text unavailability or non-English content led to exclusion.
Main Results:
- The majority of reviewed studies documented the occurrence of hepatotoxicity associated with azole antifungal agents.
- Mechanisms underlying azole antifungal-induced liver injury have been described in the literature.
Conclusions:
- Prescribing azole antifungals requires caution, especially in patients with pre-existing liver conditions.
- Close patient monitoring for hepatotoxicity is advised; further research is needed for safer, cost-effective drug selection.
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