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Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Meaning

Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) is a serious clinical condition characterized by damage to the liver resulting from exposure to a pharmaceutical agent, herb, or dietary supplement. This injury can range in severity from asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes to acute liver failure requiring transplantation. DILI is a diagnosis of exclusion, requiring careful clinical assessment to rule out other causes of hepatic dysfunction, such as viral hepatitis or autoimmune disease. Clinicians must exercise vigilance, particularly when prescribing hormonal therapies or other medications known to undergo extensive hepatic metabolism.