Hepatotoxicity; How Can Drugs Damage Your Liver?

Lab investigations

They will then order a number of investigations to confirm the diagnosis including:

• Liver function tests: Liver enzymes are good measures of liver damage and can identify acute hepatotoxicity.
• Bilirubin level if you are jaundiced
• Viral markers for viral hepatitis: Although viral hepatitis is unlikely to exist with drug-related hepatotoxicity, it remains one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis and should be excluded before making a diagnosis.
• Prothrombin time: Prothrombin time is a test of blood coagulation, and since most coagulation factors are formed by the liver, it can be prolonged in liver disease.
• Albumin level in the blood: Albumin is the main protein of the blood and is formed by the liver. In liver disease, its level can decrease.
• Blood level of a suspected drug: Not all medications can be detected by blood tests, but for those who do, measuring blood levels can be useful in determining whether treatment is needed and determining the likely outcome of hepatotoxicity.