Anti tubercular treatment induced hepatotoxicity: does acetylator status matter?

Anti tubercular drug related hepatotoxicity is common. The mechanism of injury and factors predisposing to its development are not fully understood. Forty patients with anti tubercular drugs related hepatotoxicity were studied to see the clinical and biochemical profile of these patients and to find out the significance of acetylator phenotype in the development of hepatotoxicity. Mean age of patients with liver damage (37.82 +/- 10.0 years) was similar to those without liver damage (36.48 +/- 12.5 years). Pyrazinamide appeared to increase the hepatotoxicity of isoniazid and rifampicin. The percentage of rapid acetylators and slow acetylators among patients with hepatotoxicity (70% and 30% respectively) was similar to controls (66.6% rapid and 33.3% slow acetylators). Acetylator phenotype probably has no role in anti tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity.