Who is at Risk for Hepatotoxicity?
Different individuals process drugs at varying rates: some are slow metabolizers, while others are rapid metabolizers. These differences are largely genetic; for example, some people have less CYP450 enzymes than others. Pharmacogenetic tests that determine how well specific people can metabolize drugs may soon be widely available. Other factors—such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and eating certain foods—can also affect drug metabolism. Research suggests that women are more likely to experience drug-related hepatotoxicity, perhaps because they have a lower average body weight. Also, children and elderly people tend to metabolize drugs more slowly. Because of these variations, a drug dose that is appropriate for one person may be too high or too low for another. People with existing liver disease—for example, due to hepatitis B or C or heavy alcohol consumption—are more likely to experience drug-related liver toxicity. People with damaged livers may have inadequate levels of
