Drug-induced Liver Injury Following Prolonged use of Nitrofurantoin

Manthan Dhingra1, Abhra Ghosh2

  • 1Department of General Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

PubMed

Insights

Nitrofurantoin is a common antibiotic for urinary tract infections. Rarely, it can cause severe liver injury, even in healthy individuals, as seen in a case of drug-induced liver injury from prolonged use.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Nitrofurantoin is a primary antibiotic for treating and preventing recurrent lower urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • While generally safe, nitrofurantoin use is associated with known adverse effects, including pulmonary hypersensitivity.
  • Rarely, nitrofurantoin can induce various forms of liver injury, ranging from mild hepatitis to fatal fulminant liver failure, particularly in elderly females with pre-existing liver or renal conditions.

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