Background: Anti-tuberculosis regiments have been reported to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI) which interferes with the therapy itself and thus increases morbidity and mortality in tuberculosis patients. There has been no medication aimed specifically to prevent DILI related to anti-tuberculosis regiments. Objective: To look for scientific evidences regarding hepatoprotective property of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to prevent DILI related to anti-tuberculosis medication.
Methods: Clinical question had been formulated before relevant scientific articles were sought in online databases using keywords extracted from the clinical question. Articles were then sorted based on the inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and relevance.
Results: Two relevant articles in regards of the clinical question were found. Both provide scientific evidences that NAC reduced the occurrence of DILI related to anti-tuberculosis medications. Outcome indicators include good cell viability, prevention of DNA damage and decrease in hepatic enzymes and plasma bilirubin. Conclusion: Administration of NAC has hepatoprotective effect to prevent DILI related to anti-tuberculosis medications.
Key words: Tuberculosis, drug-induced liver injury, N-acetylsysteine, hepatoprotective