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. 2022 Aug 22;37(33):e255.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e255.

Incidence and Pattern of Aminotransferase Elevation During Anti-Hypertensive Therapy With Angiotensin-II Receptor Blockers

Won Joon Choi #  1 , Gi-Ae Kim #  2 , Jaewon Park  1 , Sangmi Jang  1 , Woo Jin Jung  1 , Jae-Jun Shim  2 , Yewan Park  2 , Gwang Hyeon Choi  1 , Jin-Wook Kim  1 , Sook-Hyang Jeong  1 , Eun Sun Jang  3
Affiliations

Incidence and Pattern of Aminotransferase Elevation During Anti-Hypertensive Therapy With Angiotensin-II Receptor Blockers

Won Joon Choi et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin type II receptor blockers (ARBs) are the most widely used anti-hypertensive drugs. This study aimed to elucidate the likelihood and pattern of ARB-induced liver injury in a hospital-based cohort.

Methods: Data of patients receiving fimasartan (n = 5,543), candesartan (n = 6,406), valsartan (n = 6,040), and losartan (n = 9,126) were retrieved from the clinical data warehouse of two tertiary hospitals. Patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels > 5 times the upper normal limit were assessed according to the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM).

Results: A total of 27,115 patients were enrolled, including 14,630 (54.0%) men, with a mean age of 64.6 years (standard deviation, 13.6). During 31,717 person-years of ARB therapy, serum ALT levels > 120 IU/L were found in 558 (2.1%) person-years, and levels > 200 IU/L were found in 155 (0.6%) person-years. The incidence of ALT elevation > 120 IU/L per 106 cumulative defined daily doses was 6.6, 3.6, 3.9, and 4.0 in the fimasartan, candesartan, valsartan, and losartan groups, respectively (P = 0.002). An ALT level > 200 IU/L with RUCAM score ≥ 6 was found in 20 patients, suggesting probable drug-induced liver injury for 11 (0.2%) patients receiving fimasartan, five (0.1%) receiving candesartan, four (0.1%) receiving valsartan, and none receiving losartan (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Approximately 2% of patients receiving ARB therapy had significant ALT elevation (4.24/106 cumulative defined daily doses [cDDDs]), which was associated with probable ARB-related liver injury in 0.07% of patients (0.15/106 cDDDs). Elevation of ALT was more commonly associated with fimasartan than the other ARBs. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of ARB-related ALT elevation in patients with unexplained chronic abnormal ALT.

Keywords: Alanine Transaminase; Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Fimasartan; Liver Function Tests.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flowchart of patient selection.
ARB = angiotensin type II receptor blocker, ALT = alanine aminotransferase, UNL = upper normal limit (40 IU/L), RUCAM = Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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