Drug-induced hepatic injury in children: a case/non-case study of suspected adverse drug reactions in VigiBase

center dot Drug-induced hepatic injury is one of the most important reasons for drug withdrawal in adults. center dot Very little is known about drug-induced hepatic injury in children and adolescents. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS center dot The rate of hepatic injury as suspected adverse drug reactions in the paediatric population is low. center dot Drugs associated with hepatotoxicity in children and adolescents were mostly known to be associated with hepatotoxicity in adults as well. AIM To identify which drugs are associated with reports of suspected hepatic injury in children and adolescents. METHODS Using a worldwide pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase, we conducted a case/non-case study on suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in the population < 18 years old. Cases were all the records with hepatic ADRs and non-cases were all the other ADR records. Records regarding topically administered drugs were excluded from both groups. The association between drug and suspected hepatic ADRs was calculated using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) as a measure of disproportionality while adjusting for gender, country, reporter and calendar year. Sub-analyses were performed within therapeutic class and by excluding vaccination-related reports to reduce confounding. RESULTS Overall, 6595 (1%) out of 624 673 ADR records in children and adolescents concerned hepatic injury. Most of the reported hepatic injuries concerned children 12-17 years of age. Drugs that were most frequently reported as suspected cause and were associated with hepatic injury comprised paracetamol, valproic acid, carbamazepine, methotrexate, minocycline, zidovudine, pemoline, ceftriaxone, bosentan, ciclosporin, atomoxetine, olanzapine, basiliximab, erythromycin and voriconazole. The association between hepatotoxicity and all these drugs, except for basiliximab, is already known. CONCLUSIONS Drug-induced hepatic injury is infrequently reported (only 1% of total) as a suspected ADR in children and adolescents. The drugs associated with reported hepatotoxicity (paracetamol, antiepileptic and anti-tuberculosis agents) are known to be hepatotoxic in adults as well, but age related changes in associations were observed. VigiBase is useful as a start to plan further drug safety studies in children.