A randomised comparison of management strategies for drug-induced liver injury associated with tuberculous meningitis treatment.

Donovan J., Hung TT., Thi Thu Hiep N., Nghia HDT., Ngoc LHB., Bang ND., Maharani K., Oanh PKN., Estiasari R., Trinh DHK., Lam PK., Thuong NTT., Kestelyn E., Imran D., Hamers RL., Geskus RB., Phu NH., Thwaites GE.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) management during tuberculous meningitis treatment may result in premature rifampicin and isoniazid withdrawal and contribute to poor outcomes. METHODS: Adults with tuberculous meningitis, enrolled into the ACT HIV (N=520) and LAST ACT (N=720) corticosteroid trials (NCT03092817;NCT03100786), who developed DILI were randomised to strategy-1: continue all drugs, unless ALT ≥10x upper limit of normal [ULN], bilirubin ≥43µmol/L, or symptoms worsen; or strategy-2: stop pyrazinamide, unless ALT ≥5x ULN by day 6, bilirubin ≥43µmol/L, or symptoms worsen; or strategy-3: stop rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, continue ethambutol, add levofloxacin and aminoglycoside. The primary outcome was the proportion of time, 60-days following DILI randomisation, during which neither rifampicin nor isoniazid were given (or the participant died). Secondary outcomes included acute liver failure, and death/new neurological events. RESULTS: Sixty-seven participants with DILI were randomised to strategy-1 (n=21), 2 (n=21), and 3 (n=25). Participants had fewer days without rifampicin and isoniazid in strategy-1 (median 7 days [1st-3rd quartile 0-31]) and 2 (9 days [0-21]) than strategy-3 (18 days [11-35]; p=0.022 and p=0.041). No participants developed liver failure. Strategy failure (requiring strategy-3 switch) occurred in 8/21 (38.1%) strategy-1 and 13/21 (61.9%) strategy-2. New neurological event or death after DILI randomisation, until 12 months from primary randomisation, occurred in 7/21 strategy-1, 9/21 strategy-2 and 14/25 strategy-3 (p=0.20 strategy 1 vs. 3; p=0.42 strategy 2 vs. 3). CONCLUSIONS: DILI management strategies that increase transaminase drug-stopping thresholds (10X ULN), or stop pyrazinamide alone, appeared safe and reduced rifampicin/isoniazid interruptions vs. standard approaches.

DOI

10.1016/j.jinf.2026.106796

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2026-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

Keywords

drug induced liver injury, tuberculous meningitis

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