BIOCHEMICAL ABNORMALITIES OF HEPATIC AND RENAL FUNCTION IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS RECEIVING PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY: A...

Monitoring biochemical parameters is an essential component of pharmacological safety and routine clinical practice. Abnormalities in hepatic and renal function observed during hospitalization may reflect pharmacological exposure, underlying disease processes, or their interaction. However, real-world data describing the frequency and distribution of such laboratory abnormalities in hospital settings remain limited.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of biochemical abnormalities of hepatic and renal function among patients receiving pharmacological therapy and to assess the frequency of laboratory alterations associated with commonly prescribed drug groups.

A retrospective observational study was conducted using laboratory data from the Department of Clinical Biochemistry. The analysis included 3,500 adult patients who underwent biochemical testing while receiving pharmacological therapy between January 2023 and December 2025. The evaluated parameters included alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium. Patients were categorized according to the main pharmacological therapy received, including antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antihypertensive medications. Abnormal values were defined according to institutional laboratory reference ranges.

Among the 3,500 patients included in the analysis, 52.3% were male and 47.7% were female, with a mean age of 56.8±15.4 years. Antibiotics were prescribed to 41.6% of patients, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to 33.2%, and antihypertensive medications to 25.2%. Elevated alanine aminotransferase levels were observed in 18.9% of patients, while increased aspartate aminotransferase levels were detected in 15.4%. Hepatic enzyme abnormalities were more frequently observed among patients receiving antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with statistically significant differences between therapy groups (p<0.05). Renal function abnormalities were identified in 14.7% of patients for creatinine and 12.9% for urea, particularly among patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Electrolyte disturbances were less frequent, with hyponatremia observed in 6.1% and hyperkalemia in 4.3% of cases. Overall, 27.6% of patients exhibited at least one clinically relevant biochemical abnormality during hospitalization while receiving pharmacological therapy.

A considerable proportion of hospitalized patients receiving pharmacological therapy present with clinically significant biochemical abnormalities affecting hepatic, renal, or electrolyte parameters. Although causality cannot be established in this retrospective design, these findings underscore the importance of systematic laboratory monitoring as part of hospital-based pharmacovigilance and patient safety strategies.