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GastroenterologyReal-World Cohort4 min read

Trends in the etiologies and outcomes of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury in the united states: The DILIN prospective registry, 2004 to 2024

The aim of this study is to report on temporal changes in the etiology and outcomes of idiosyncratic DILI in the United States DILIN Prospective study.

Published in Hepatology (baltimore, Md.)Observational cohort study
4/5 Strong Trial
Evidence Meter · 4/5

Strong Clinical Evidence

Tested directly in patients through a prospective clinical trial or large multicenter human cohort.

Source

Clinical Outcome

30%

Over the past 20 years, a decreasing proportion of DILI cases are attributed to antibiotics while an increasing proportion are attributed to HDS products and antineoplastics.

What Changes?

Gastroenterology · Real-World Cohort

Current Standard

The presenting clinical features and outcomes of consecutive high causality DILI cases followed for 6 months at multiple DILIN sites from 2004 to 2024 were compared over time and by suspect drug class, age, sex, and prior chronic liver disease (CLD) status.

New Finding

Oncology patients and those > 65 years old have significantly higher overall and liver-related mortality.

3 Key Takeaways

Plain English Summary
  1. 01Core Finding

    Amongst the 1983 high causality cases, median age was 52 years, 59% were female, 54% had hepatocellular injury and antibiotics (41%) were the leading drug class.

  2. 02Study Evidence

    Tested in a study at the real-world stage.

  3. 03Practical Meaning

    findings reveal real-world links, though lifestyle or unmeasured factors cannot be fully ruled out without an RCT.

What This Means for You

Over the past 20 years, a decreasing proportion of DILI cases are attributed to antibiotics while an increasing proportion are attributed to HDS products and antineoplastics. Oncology patients and those > 65 years old have significantly higher overall and liver-related mortality.

The Discovery

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an infrequent cause of liver disease. The aim of this study is to report on temporal changes in the etiology and outcomes of idiosyncratic DILI in the United States DILIN study. The presenting clinical features and outcomes of consecutive high causality DILI cases followed for 6 months at multiple DILIN sites from 2004 to 2024 were compared over time and by suspect drug class, age, sex, and prior chronic liver disease (CLD) status. Amongst the 1983 high causality cases, median age was 52 years, a clinically meaningful level were female, a clinically meaningful level had hepatocellular injury and antibiotics were the leading drug class. The median peak total bilirubin, INR and severity scores decreased significantly over time, as did the proportion of cases attributed to antimicrobials, including isoniazid and nitrofurantoin, and to central nervous system agents. In contrast, the proportion of herbal and dietary supplement (HDS) and antineoplastic drug cases (including ), increased significantly. Patients with CLD had higher mortality compared to non-CLD patients. Pediatric patients presented more frequently with hepatocellular injury but had a lower overall and liver related mortality compared to adults. Oncology DILI patients had a 6-month mortality rate with most deaths attributed to non-liver related causes.

How It Works, Simply

This gastroenterology research focuses on immune checkpoint. Researchers evaluated it using an observational cohort study at the real-world cohort stage of medical research.

3 Key Takeaways

Clinical Takeaways
  1. 01Core Finding

    Amongst the 1983 high causality cases, median age was 52 years, 59% were female, 54% had hepatocellular injury and antibiotics (41%) were the leading drug class.

  2. 02Study Evidence

    Tested in a study at the real-world stage.

  3. 03Practical Meaning

    findings reveal real-world links, though lifestyle or unmeasured factors cannot be fully ruled out without an RCT.

Key Numbers

Quantitative Study Readout
20 years
Follow-Up Window
01

Biological Mechanism & Study Design

Study Design & Cohort

Observational cohort study

Observational cohort study · Real-World Cohort

Biological Pathway & Modality

Immune checkpoint

Intervention: Trends in the etiologies and outcomes of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury in

02

Experimental Findings & Endpoints

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an infrequent cause of liver disease.

The aim of this study is to report on temporal changes in the etiology and outcomes of idiosyncratic DILI in the United States DILIN study. The presenting clinical features and outcomes of consecutive high causality DILI cases followed for 6 months at multiple DILIN sites from 2004 to 2024 were compared over time and by suspect drug class, age, sex, and prior chronic liver disease (CLD) status.

Amongst the 1983 high causality cases, median age was 52 years, a clinically meaningful level were female, a clinically meaningful level had hepatocellular injury and antibiotics were the leading drug class. The median peak total bilirubin, INR and severity scores decreased significantly over time, as did the proportion of cases attributed to antimicrobials, including isoniazid and nitrofurantoin, and to central nervous system agents.

In contrast, the proportion of herbal and dietary supplement (HDS) and antineoplastic drug cases (including ), increased significantly. Patients with CLD had higher mortality compared to non-CLD patients.

Pediatric patients presented more frequently with hepatocellular injury but had a lower overall and liver related mortality compared to adults. Oncology DILI patients had a 6-month mortality rate with most deaths attributed to non-liver related causes.

03

Clinical Translation & Practice Context

Over the past 20 years, a decreasing proportion of DILI cases are attributed to antibiotics while an increasing proportion are attributed to HDS products and antineoplastics.

Oncology patients and those > 65 years old have significantly higher overall and liver-related mortality.

03

The Bottom Line · Clinical Pearl

“Over the past 20 years, a decreasing proportion of DILI cases are attributed to antibiotics while an increasing proportion are attributed to HDS products and antineoplastics.”

Published in Hepatology (baltimore, Md.) · Current Stage: Real-World Cohort

Practical Next Step

Questions for Your Next Doctor Visit

  1. 1Based on my health history, do these gastroenterology findings (patients with CLD had higher mortality compared to non-CLD patients) apply to my situation?
  2. 2How do the potential benefits of this approach compare with the standard care I'm currently using?
  3. 3Given the study's key limitation (observational cohort findings reveal real-world links, though lifestyle or unmeasured factors cannot be fully ruled out without an RCT.), what risks or follow-up steps should we watch for?
Gastroenterology · Real-World Cohort
Study Type
Observational cohort study

Observational cohort study

Evidence Score
4/5 · Strong Clinical Evidence
Evidence Meter · 4/5

Strong Clinical Evidence

Tested directly in patients through a prospective clinical trial or large multicenter human cohort.

Tested directly in patients through a prospective clinical trial or large multicenter human cohort.

Who It Applies To
Patients with CLD had higher mortality compared to non-CLD patients
Intervention & Mechanism
Trends in the etiologies and outcomes of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury in

Immune checkpoint

Key Limitation
Observational cohort findings reveal real-world links, though lifestyle or unmeasured factors cannot be fully ruled out without an RCT.

Translational Stage

LEVEL 2 · Real-World Cohort

Classified as Observational cohort study along the clinical evidence continuum

  1. Lab & Discovery
  2. Early Trials
  3. Human Evidence
  4. 4Real-World CohortActive

Indexed Clinical Entities

Original Publication & AMA Citation

Trends in the etiologies and outcomes of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury in the united states: The DILIN prospective registry, 2004 to 2024. Hepatology (baltimore, Md.). Published 2026;Oct 23. Accessed November 15, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42912720/

Hepatology (baltimore, Md.)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42912720/

Read Original Paper

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