Liver transplantation for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced liver failure: nimesulide as the first implicated compound.

ABSTRACT

Among industrialized countries, the rate of drug-induced liver failure varies widely accounting for about 1-12% of the indications for liver transplantation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are with antibiotics the most frequently involved compounds. In this single-center series of 57 consecutive cases of acute liver failure treated by orthotopic liver transplantation, five were related to NSAIDs-induced liver damage, three being due to nimesulide use. This has to be taken as a further warning about the potential for this compound to induce liver failure.