Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
**Reporter Su Xiangyun / Comprehensive Foreign Report**
*Taiwan New Life News* May 1, 2013
Many patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis often require anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents to reduce inflammatory responses in the body. However, a recent U.S. study warns that frequent use of these biologic agents may cause a sharp rise in liver enzymes, leading to acute liver damage. Therefore, if patients experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or fatigue after taking the medication, it is advisable to check liver enzyme levels to clarify their condition.
The study, recently published in the *Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology*, notes that patients with inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis may also use anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents. The study's author, Dr. Maurizio Bonacini, a clinical associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that while these biologic agents can effectively treat certain intestinal, joint, and skin inflammatory diseases, they may also cause liver damage. Therefore, physicians in related fields must be aware of the potential side effects of these drugs, and autoimmune diseases should be diagnosed early to determine future treatment and care plans.
The research team searched the *U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network* database and found six patients who developed liver damage after using anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents. Researchers also identified 28 similar cases in the U.S. public drug database, including one patient who required a liver transplant but improved after discontinuing the medication.
Source: [http://tw. news. yahoo. com](http://tw. news. yahoo. com)
Frequent Use of Biologics May Cause Acute Liver Damage
*Taiwan New Life News* May 1, 2013
Many patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis often require anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents to reduce inflammatory responses in the body. However, a recent U.S. study warns that frequent use of these biologic agents may cause a sharp rise in liver enzymes, leading to acute liver damage. Therefore, if patients experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or fatigue after taking the medication, it is advisable to check liver enzyme levels to clarify their condition.
The study, recently published in the *Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology*, notes that patients with inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis may also use anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents. The study's author, Dr. Maurizio Bonacini, a clinical associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that while these biologic agents can effectively treat certain intestinal, joint, and skin inflammatory diseases, they may also cause liver damage. Therefore, physicians in related fields must be aware of the potential side effects of these drugs, and autoimmune diseases should be diagnosed early to determine future treatment and care plans.
The research team searched the *U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network* database and found six patients who developed liver damage after using anti-α tumor necrosis factor biologic agents. Researchers also identified 28 similar cases in the U.S. public drug database, including one patient who required a liver transplant but improved after discontinuing the medication.
Source: [http://tw. news. yahoo. com](http://tw. news. yahoo. com)