Hepatocellular Carcinoma Evaluation and Management for Physicians: Joint Gastroenterology Research Society and Association of Physicians of India Guidelines.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of, and accounts for almost 90% of all liver cancers. Data from India is limited especially due to cancer not being a reportable disease and in view of wide variation in diagnostic modalities. This document is a result of a consensus meeting comprising Hepatologists, Interventional Radiologists, Hepatobiliary surgeons, medical and surgical Oncologists nominated by the Association of Physicians of India and Gastroenterology Research Society of Mumbai. The following Clinical Practice Guidelines for practicing physicians is intended to act as an up to date protocol for clinical management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The document comprises seven sections with statements and sub-statements with strength of evidence and recommendation.

Drug Induced Liver Injury at a Tertiary Hospital in India: Etiology, Clinical Features and Predictors of Mortality.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is rare; however, it is one of the important causes of acute liver failure which results in significant morbidity or mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with suspected DILI were enrolled based on predefined criteria and followed up for at least 6 months or until normalization of liver tests. Causality assessment was done by applying the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method model. RESULTS: We collected data from 82 individuals diagnosed with DILI at our hospital from 2014 through 2015 (41 men; median age, 38 years). The most commonly implicated drugs were antitubercular therapy (ATT) (49%), antiepileptic drugs (12%), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in 10%, antiretroviral drugs (9%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (6%). 8 out of 13 deaths were liver related. Also, liver related mortality was significantly higher for ATT DILI (17.5%) vs. those without (2.4%) (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in overall as well as liver related mortality in hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of injury. Laboratory parameters at one week after discontinuation of drug predicted mortality better than those at the time of DILI recognition. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, jaundice, encephalopathy, MELD (Model for end stage liver disease) score and alkaline phosphatase at one week, independently predicted mortality. CONCLUSION: DILI results in significant overall mortality (15.85%). ATT, anti-epileptic drugs, CAM and antiretroviral drugs are leading causes of DILI in India. Presence of jaundice, encephalopathy, MELD score and alkaline phosphatase at one week are independent predictors of mortality.

An Unusual Case of Atrial Wall Cardiac Sarcoidosis Detected on Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scan.

Isolated cardiac sarcoidosis (ICS) accounts for 5%-10% of patients with sarcoidosis. It can involve atrioventricular node causing heart block, as well as the basal septum, papillary muscles, focal regions in the free wall, and the myocardium being more commonly involved. The diagnosis is achieved on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endomyocardial biopsy. Recently, Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET) has been incorporated in the diagnosis as well as management algorithm. We describe an interesting case of ICS detected on F-18 FDG PET and MRI and discuss its role in the management of this rare presentation.

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas: An Ill Omen or a Misleading Sign.

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG), a rare radiological finding, is historically considered an ominous sign with 100% mortality rates. The dictum that HPVG warrants surgical intervention is challenged in the recent literature. This is because of the identification of various causes of HVPG other than bowel gangrene. Most of these newly identified causes can be managed conservatively. However, bowel gangrene, if missed, is fatal. Hence, sound clinical judgment and accurate diagnosis based on specific clinical parameters and imaging findings are important. We present a case of a young male with tumor lysis syndrome and neutropenic sepsis. He underwent treatment for a relapse of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia and presented with abdominal pain and distension. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed HPVG, and the differential diagnosis was neutropenic colitis or pseudomembranous colitis, with steroid use as the probable cause. The patient was managed conservatively. The case emphasizes that the evaluation for a specific cause of HPVG is important to reduce unnecessary surgery. A succinct literature review provides the reasons for the changing mortality rates.

Difficult colonoscopy: air, carbon dioxide, or water insufflation?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to compare tolerance to air, carbon dioxide, or water insufflation in patients with anticipated difficult colonoscopy (young, thin, obese individuals, and patients with prior abdominal surgery or irradiation). METHODS: Patients with body mass index (BMI) less than 18 kg/m2 or more than 30 kg/m2, or who had undergone previous abdominal or pelvic surgeries were randomized to air, carbon dioxide, or water insufflation during colonoscopy. The primary endpoint was cecal intubation with mild pain (less than 5 on visual analogue scale [VAS]), without use of sedation. RESULTS: The primary end point was achieved in 32.7%, 43.8%, and 84.9% of cases with air, carbon dioxide and water insufflation (P<0.001). The mean pain scores were 5.17, 4.72, and 3.93 on the VAS for air, carbon dioxide, and water insufflation (P<0.001). The cecal intubation rate or procedure time did not differ significantly between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Water insufflation was superior to air or carbon dioxide for pain tolerance. This was seen in the subgroups with BMI <18 kg/m2 and the post-surgical group, but not in the group with BMI >30 kg/m2.

Anemia in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission: A study from western India.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is common in patients with active ulcerative colitis. We aimed to study the anemia profile in patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with ulcerative colitis and with a clinical Mayo score less than 3 for at least 3 months were evaluated for anemia. Initial screening was done by hemogram and only patients with anemia were evaluated further for the cause of anemia. We also screened a control population for anemia. Patients with mild anemia were given oral iron, moderate anemia were given intravenous iron and severe anemia were given blood transfusion. RESULTS: The mean hemoglobin in ulcerative colitis patients was 11.75 g/dL and in controls was 13.1 g/dL (p=0.011). The prevalence of anemia was 53.1% in the ulcerative colitis patients and 13.3% in the controls (p=<0.001). 58.8% had mild anemia, 29.4% had moderate anemia and 8.8% had severe anemia. Iron deficiency was the most common cause of anemia (70.5%) followed by anemia of chronic disease combined with iron deficiency in 23.5%. Ferritin levels did not correlate with hemoglobin levels. Oral iron increased the hemoglobin by 1.4 g/dL and intravenous iron by 2.2 g/dL at 1 month. CONCLUSION: Anemia was seen in more than half of patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission, iron deficiency being the most common cause.

Gastric lipoma: an unusual cause of dyspeptic symptoms.

Gastric lipomas are rare tumours accounting for 2-3% of all benign gastric tumours. These are usually submucosal in origin but in rare cases may be subserosal in origin. Although a majority of gastric lipomas are asymptomatic and usually detected incidentally, occasionally these can cause abdominal pain, dyspeptic disorders, obstruction, invagination and haemorrhages. In the literature, only 200 cases of gastric lipomas have been reported so far. We report a case of a 56-year-old female with a submucosal symptomatic gastric lipoma presenting with disabling dyspeptic symptoms.

Hematemesis: Unusual presentation of isolated gastric tuberculosis.

A 25-year-old male presented with hematemesis, epigastric pain, and melena. He had dyspepsia with significant weight loss for 3 months period. On clinical examination, he was pale with no organomegaly or lymphadenopathy. The X-ray chest was normal, and ultrasound abdomen was normal. Upper GI endoscopy revealed nodularity and ulceration along proximal part of lesser curvature of the stomach. CT scan abdomen showed thickening of lesser curvature just below gastro-esophageal junction. The biopsies were negative for malignancy. Repeat upper GI endoscopy showed a nonhealing ulcer, on repeat well biopsies taken from the base of ulcer primary gastric tuberculosis was diagnosed. It showed many epithelioid cell granulomas and multinucleated giant cells with caseous necrosis on histology. Acid-fast bacilli on Zeil Neelsen staining and TB PCR were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He was put on four-drug anti-tuberculous treatment. On follow-up, the patient gradually improved and regained weight. Repeat upper GI endoscopy done after 8 weeks showed healing of the ulcer with decrease in nodularity.

Cystic Dystrophy of the Duodenum Due to Heterotopic Pancreas - A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Cystic Dystrophy and Heterotopic Pancreas (CDHP) is a rare cause of chronic pancreatitis, duodenal obstruction and obstructive jaundice. The diagnosis is often delayed and requires multimodal imaging with Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography (MRCP) and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS). The treatment is not standardized but Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) provides long-term relief in some cases. The present case is about a 47-year-old male with history of alcohol abuse for 10 years who presented with a history of recurrent acute pancreatitis. CT scan revealed bulky head of pancreas with a hypodense area between pancreatic head and second part of duodenum, prominent pancreatic duct, Dilated Common Bile Duct (CBD) (15mm) and stenosis of second part of duodenum. EUS confirmed CT findings. A Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) showed only inflammatory infiltrate. A diagnosis of groove pancreatitis was made. The patient was subjected to a pylorus preserving PD. Histopathological examination showed cystic dystrophy of duodenum due to heterotopic pancreas. The patient is doing well at 5 years of follow-up.

Role of Rectal Diclofenac Suppository for Prevention and Its Impact on Severity of Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis in High-Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study the role of rectal diclofenac in prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis and its impact on severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, prospective, open-labeled, randomized trial for evaluating the use of rectal diclofenac in prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk patients. We assessed 526 patients coming for ERCP for different indications. Four hundred patients were eligible for the study. Those not fitting the high-risk criteria and with acute pancreatitis were excluded. These patients were randomized in two groups: 200 patients received rectal diclofenac prior to or during the procedure, while 200 patients received placebos. Serum amylase was measured at 2 and 36 hours. Post-ERCP pancreatitis was defined as serum amylase > 3 times upper limit of normal with associated severe abdominal pain. Severity was graded according to days of hospitalization and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-nine out of 400 (7.2%) patients developed post-ERCP pancreatitis. Six out of 200 (3%) patients in rectal diclofenac group developed post-ERCP pancreatitis compared to 23 out of 200 (11.5%) patients in placebo group. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). All patients (six) in rectal diclofenac group developed mild pancreatitis as compared to severe pancreatitis in four and moderate pancreatitis in five patients in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Rectal diclofenac prior to or during ERCP in high-risk patients reduces the incidence as well as severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis compared to placebo.

Etiology, clinical profile, and outcome of liver disease in pregnancy with predictors of maternal mortality: A prospective study from Western India.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to study the etiology, clinical profile, and prognostic factors related to maternal and fetal health in pregnant patients with liver disease in Western India. METHODS: This study included 103 consecutive pregnant patients with liver dysfunction from August 2013 to July 2015, who underwent regular biochemical tests, viral markers, ultrasound of abdomen, etc. and were followed up for 6 weeks postpartum or until death. RESULTS: Pregnancy-specific causes of liver dysfunction were found in 39 % (40/103) patients. Liver diseases were most frequent in third trimester 69.9 % (72/103). Etiologies in third trimester were viral hepatitis 36.1 % (26/72), pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) 30.5 % (22/72), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy 11.1 % (8/72), acute fatty liver of pregnancy (2/72), etc. Hepatitis E was the commonest agent among viral hepatitis 71.8 % (28/39). Causes of maternal mortality (n = 25) were hepatitis E 40 % (10/25), PIH 32 % (8/25), and tropical diseases 20 % (5/25). Fetal mortality (n = 31) was 38.7 % (12/31) in hepatitis E. Maternal mortality was significantly associated with presence of jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, oliguria, anemia, leukocytosis, and coagulopathy. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score >21 predicted maternal mortality with 80 % sensitivity and 91 % specificity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.878 and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver disease was most common in the third trimester of pregnancy. Hepatitis E was the most common cause of liver disease in pregnant women in western India with significant maternal mortality, predicted by high MELD score.

The role of capsule endoscopy in etiological diagnosis and management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the various etiologies, yields, and effects of capsule endoscopy (CE) on management and complications, along with follow up of patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. METHODS: The study group of patients included those having obscure, overt, or occult GI bleeding. The findings were categorized as (A) obvious/definitive, (B) equivocal, or (C) negative. Any significant alteration in patient management post CE in the form of drug or surgical intervention was noted. RESULTS: Total patients included in the study were 68 (48 males and 20 females). The ratio of male:female was 2.4:1. The age ranged between 16 years to 77 years. Mean age for males was 62±14 years, for females 58±16 years. The total yield of CE with definitive lesions was in 44/68 (65.0%) of patients. In descending order (A) angiodysplasia 16/68 (23.53%), (B) Crohn's disease 10/68 (14.70%), (C) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug enteropathy 8/68 (11.76%), (D) small bowel ulcers 4/68 (5.88%), (E) jejunal and ileal polyps 2/68 (2.94%), (F) intestinal lymphangiectasis 2/68 (2.94%), and (G) ileal hemangiomas 2/68 (2.94%) were followed. Equivocal findings 12/68 (17.65%) and negative study 12/68 (17.65%) was found. Complications in the form of capsule retention in the distal ileum were noted in 2/68 (2.94%) subjects. Statistically, there was a higher probability of finding the etiology if the CE was done during an episode of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: CE plays an important role in diagnosing etiologies of obscure GI bleeding. Its role in influencing the management outcome is vital.

Prevalence of hypothyroidism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients attending a tertiary hospital in western India.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The patients visiting Gastroenterology outpatient clinic between September 2011 and September 2013 at our tertiary care center were investigated for NAFLD. Three hundred controls were selected on the basis of negative ultrasound examination. All patients above 18 years were included. All patients with alcohol intake greater than 20 g/day, HBsAg or anti-HCV positivity, and history of liver disease were excluded. Full thyroid profile was carried out in all patients and they were classified as follows: subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH >5.5 IU/mL but <10 IU/mL) and overt hypothyroidism (TSH >10 IU/mL). Eight hundred (500 NAFLD and 300 controls) patients were studied. The mean age of NAFLD patients was 44.3 years and of controls was 41.6 years, respectively. The female-to-male ratio of NAFLD patients was 1.8:1 and of controls was 1.94:1, respectively (p>0.05). Hypothyroidism was significantly more common in NAFLD patients compared to controls. Eighty-four patients were detected to have hypothyroidism in NAFLD group compared to only four patients in control group (p<0.001). Mean ALT (55 vs. 21 IU), AST (44 vs. 18 IU), and BMI (29.17 vs. 25.14 kg/m2) were significantly higher in NAFLD hypothyroid group compared to nonhypothyroid NAFLD. Multivariate regression analysis showed that NAFLD was statistically significantly associated with hypothyroidism [odds ratio (OR) 14.94, 95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.5 to 62.6]. Steatohepatitis was more common in hypothyroid as compared to nonhypothyroid group [OR 3.9, 1.2 to 11.1 (95 % CI)]. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in NAFLD was 16.8 %. Hypothyroidism was closely associated with NAFLD independently of known metabolic risk factors, confirming a significant clinical relationship between these two diseases.

Prospective comparative study of inhibitory control test and psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score for diagnosis and prognosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients in the Indian subcontinent.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the usefulness of inhibitory control test (ICT) for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in the Indian subcontinent and its correlation with the severity of liver disease and to determine its prognostic significance. METHODS: Two hundred patients with cirrhosis and 200 healthy controls were enrolled. Only patients were administered with psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), while both patients and controls were subjected to ICT. MHE was diagnosed when PHES ≤ -5. ICT was considered abnormal when the numbers of ICT lures were ≥ 14. RESULTS: Overall, 135 (67.5%) patients had MHE. Mean ICT lures were higher in cirrhotic patients with MHE than those without MHE (17.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9-22.3 vs 8.79, 95% CI 6.8-12.60, P < 0.001). Target accuracy was lower in patients with MHE than in those without (84.35, 95% CI 78.5-89.8 vs 95.36, 95% CI 90.1-99.2, P < 0.001). ICT had a sensitivity of 92.6% and specificity of 78.5% with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.855 (95% CI 0.791-0.920) for MHE. ICT was correlated with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class (P < 0.001) and the model for end-stage liver disease score (P < 0.001) and predicted the development of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) and probable survival with excellent test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: ICT is useful for diagnosing MHE in patients with cirrhosis. It is correlated with disease severity and predicts the development of OHE and probable survival with excellent test-retest reliability.

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN A RURAL VILLAGE OF INDIA.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are among the principal causes of severe liver disease. There is limited data of epidemiology of Hepatitis B in community, more so in rural population. OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection in community and study the risk factors for their transmission. METHODS: This was a community based cross sectional study. A total of 1833 randomly selected subjects from a rural area were interviewed for risk factors for transmission and tested for markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. All the positive card tests were confirmed by ELISA. RESULTS: Out of 2400 subjects, rate for participation was 76.38%. None of the subjects was positive for anti hepatitis C virus antibody. Point prevalence for HBsAg positivity was 0.92. Being healthcare worker and having tattoo were significantly associated with HBsAg positive results. Nose and ear piercing was reported by almost. History of blood or blood product transfusion, I/V drug abuse, multiple sexual partners, unsafe Injections, hemodialysis and any h/o surgery was not associated with HBsAg positivity. CONCLUSION: Health care workers are at high risk for transmission of hepatitis B. Educating common people regarding mode of transmission of Hepatitis B and C will help to reduce their transmission.

Sequential therapy versus standard triple-drug therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance has decreased eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori infection worldwide. A sequential treatment schedule has been reported to be effective, but studies published to date were performed in Italy. We undertook this study to determine whether these results could be replicated in India. METHODS: A randomized, open-labeled, prospective controlled trial comparing sequential vs. standard triple-drug therapy was carried out at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai. Two hundred and thirty-one patients with dyspepsia were randomized to a 10-day sequential regimen (40 mg of pantoprazole, 1 g of amoxicillin, each administered twice daily for the first 5 days, followed by 40 mg of pantoprazole, 500 mg of clarithromycin, and 500 mg of tinidazole, each administered twice daily for the remaining 5 days) or to standard 14-day therapy (40 mg of pantoprazole, 500 mg of clarithromycin, and 1 g of amoxicillin, each administered twice daily). RESULTS: The eradication rate achieved with the sequential regimen was significantly greater than that obtained with the triple therapy. Per-protocol eradication rate of sequential therapy was 92.4% (95% CI 85.8-96.1%) vs. 81.8% (95% CI 73.9-87.8%) (p = 0.027) for standard drug therapy. Intention-to-treat eradication rates were 88.2% (95% CI 80.9-93.0%) vs. 79.1% (95% CI 71.1-85.4%), p = 0.029, respectively. The incidence of major and minor side effects between therapy groups was not significantly different (14.6% in the triple therapy group vs. 23.5% in sequential group, p = 0.12). Follow up was incomplete in 3.3% and 4.7% patients in standard and sequential therapy groups, respectively. Sequential therapy includes one additional antibiotic (tinidazole) that is not contained in standard therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential therapy was significantly better than standard therapy for eradicating H. pylori infection.

Comparative randomized study on efficacy of losartan versus propranolol in lowering portal pressure in decompensated chronic liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, with propranolol on portal hypertension in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease. METHODS: In all, 30 patients with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis and large varices without any prior therapy for portal hypertension were randomized to either losartan (n = 15) or propranolol (n = 15). Clinical, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters including hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP) were measured at baseline and after 4-week therapy. Patients with HVPG < 12 mmHg were regarded as responders. RESULTS: An equal number of responders were seen in both groups (6/15, 40.0%). The reduction of WHVP and HVPG was greater in the losartan group than in the propranolol group, although no significant differences between them were found. Heart rate decreased more in the propranolol arm than in the losartan arm (P < 0.01); however, no correlation between the decrease of heart rate and the reduction of HVPG was observed. One patient in the losartan group, although a responder, had gastrointestinal bleeding 2 months after the drug administration, but the varices were small under endoscopy and did not require definitive therapy. The fall of MABP was greater with losartan, with no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The effect of losartan was comparable to propranolol in reducing portal pressure in decompensated Child-Pugh B chronic liver disease.

CVID enteropathy- a rare cause of chronic diarrhea in a child.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent bacterial infections especially in respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The authors present here a case of CVID with uncommon gastrointestinal manifestation in the form of CVID enteropathy. Based upon the clinical presentation and histopatholic findings the patient was diagnosed as CVID enteropathy and treated with intravenous antibiotics and 3-4 wkly intravenous immunoglobulin infusion and he had responded poorly to gastrointestinal symptoms but the frequency of respiratory and skin infection reduced. CVID has heterogenous gastrointestinal manifestations; among them the CVID enteropathy is an uncommon presentation which responds poorly to the mainstay therapy of intravenous immunoglobulin infusion and represents a diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenge for treating physician.

Drug Induced Liver Injury at a Tertiary Hospital in India: Etiology, Clinical Features and Predictors of Mortality

ABSTRACT Introduction and aims. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is rare; however, it is one of the important causes of acute liver failure which results in significant morbidity or mortality. Material and methods. Patients with suspected DILI were enrolled based on predefined criteria and followed up for at least 6 months or until normalization of liver tests. Causality assessment was done by applying the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method model. Results. We collected data from 82 individuals diagnosed with DILI at our hospital from 2014 through 2015 (41 men; median age, 38 years). The most commonly implicated drugs were antitubercular therapy (ATT) (49%), antiepileptic drugs (12%), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in 10%, antiretroviral drugs (9%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (6%). 8 out of 13 deaths were liver related. Also, liver related mortality was significantly higher for ATT DILI (17.5%) vs. those without (2.4%) (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in overall as well as liver related mortality in hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of injury. Laboratory parameters at one week after discontinuation of drug predicted mortality better than those at the time of DILI recognition. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, jaundice, encephalopathy, MELD (Model for end stage liver disease) score and alkaline phosphatase at one week, independently predicted mortality. Conclusion. DILI results in significant overall mortality (15.85%). ATT, anti-epileptic drugs, CAM and antiretroviral drugs are leading causes of DILI in India. Presence of jaundice, encephalopathy, MELD score and alkaline phosphatase at one week are independent predictors of mortality.(AU)