TB Research

Clinical Features of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Risk Factors for Severe Cases: A Retrospective Study in China

Zhang S, Dong N, Wang L, Lu Y, Chen X

Infection and drug resistance · 2025-04

Abstract

Background Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATB-DILI) is a common adverse reaction associated with tuberculosis (TB) treatment, significantly impacting treatment adherence and therapeutic outcomes. However, large-scale studies on hospitalized patients in China remain limited. Purpose To characterize the clinical features and liver injury patterns in hospitalized TB patients with ATB-DILI and to identify risk factors associated with severe ATB-DILI. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 28,753 hospitalized TB patients at Beijing Chest Hospital from 2014 to 2023. ATB-DILI was diagnosed in 567 patients (2.0%) based on serum biochemical criteria and causality assessment. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed to characterize liver injury types and identify risk factors for severe cases. Subgroup analyses based on liver injury patterns were performed to further evaluate the association between age and severe ATB-DILI. Results Overall, 567 cases with ATB-DILI (2.0%) were analyzed. Hepatocellular injury was the most common type (71.4%), followed by cholestatic (13.8%) and mixed (14.8%) injury patterns. Most patients (68.4%) were asymptomatic and diagnosed via routine biochemical monitoring; jaundice occurred in 18.2%. Patients with hepatocellular damage were significantly younger, while those with cholestatic injury were older (p Conclusion Routine liver function monitoring and age-specific risk assessment are essential for early identification and management of ATB-DILI in hospitalized TB patients.