Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Archive from 2022 July
    • Archive 1960 to 2022 June
    • Accepted Articles
    • Published Ahead-of-Print
    • Supplement
  • About
  • For Authors
  • Podcasts

Liver injury induced by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid

< Back to Listing

Share this Article

Singapore Med J 2004; 45(11): 530-532
Liver injury induced by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid

  • Abstract
  • PDF

N Somchit, F Sanat, EH Gan, IAW Shahrin, A Zuraini
Correspondence: Dr Nhareet Somchit, nhareet@medic.upm.edu.my

ABSTRACT
Introduction
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, inflammation and to control pain. Virtually all NSAIDs are capable of producing liver injury ranging from mild reversible elevation of liver enzymes to severe hepatic necrosis.
Methods Mice were dosed intraperitoneally with mefenamic acid either one day at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg, or 14 days dosing at 50mg/kg/day and 100mg/kg/day. Plasma was taken for alanine aminotransferase activity. Mice were sacrificed at the end of the study. Livers were removed and weighed. Liver samples were taken for histology.
Results One-day doses of mefenamic acid revealed dose-dependent hepatocyte degeneration in the liver parenchyma.There were no significant changes in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity. Interestingly, 14-day daily doses induced hepatocellular necrosis, massive degeneration and inflammation. This was accompanied by a significant increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and significant increase in the liver weight in the 100mg/kg/day mefenamic acid-dosed mice.
Conclusion Results from this study suggest that mefenamic acid is capable of producing hepatotoxicity and care should be taken when prescribing or using this drug.

Keywords: hepatotoxicity, liver, mefenamic acid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Singapore Med J 2004; 45(11): 530-532

http://smj.org.sg/sites/default/files/4511/4511a4.pdf
×

Around the Site

Home

About SMJ

For Reviewers

Sign Up for Alerts

Issues

Current Issue

All Issues

Online First

Supplement

CME

For Authors

Instructions for Authors

Submit Manuscript


Follow us on:
        

More Links

Contact Us

Copyright

Advertise

SMJ Forms

Privacy Policy

SMA Home

Copyright 2021. Singapore Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.