Variation in Liver Biochemistries in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis: Implications for Assessing Drug-Induced Live

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Variation in Liver Biochemistries in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis: Implications for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Clinical Trials Marzena Jurek1 • Masoud Mokhtarani1 • John M. Vierling2 • Dion F. Coakley1 Jitendra Ganju1 • Richard Rowell1 • Bruce F. Scharschmidt1



Published online: 11 January 2016  Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Abstract Background Current approaches to detection of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are generally based on changes from normal in biochemical liver tests. However, limited information is available regarding the proportion of patients with normal versus abnormal biochemical tests, the expected temporal pattern of biochemical abnormalities, or the applicability of current approaches to DILI detection for patients with pre-existing liver disease. Objective These analyses aimed to answer the following questions. (1) What proportion of patients have normal versus abnormal biochemical liver tests at study baseline? (2) What is the variability of these biochemical tests on repeat testing? (3) What proportion of patients meet current criteria for discontinuation of treatment? (4) Is an eDISH (evaluation of Drug-Induced Serious Hepatotoxicity) approach likely to be useful in such a study population? Methods Biochemical liver test results from 178 patients with clinically decompensated cirrhosis who participated in a 4-month clinical trial of glycerol phenylbutyrate versus placebo for reduction in recurrence rate of hepatic encephalopathy were reviewed to determine fluctuation over time and the applicability of the US FDA DILI guideline and eDISH. Results In this cohort, the biochemical tests were frequently abnormal at baseline (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] 42 %, alanine aminotransferase [ALT] 71 %, & Bruce F. Scharschmidt [email protected]; [email protected] 1

Horizon Therapeutics, Inc., 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 520, Deerfield, IL 60015, USA

2

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

bilirubin 67 %, international normalized ratio [INR] 62 %) and exhibited substantial variation both pre-dose and following enrollment and dosing. Up to 20 % of patients met current regulatory guidance criteria for consideration of interruption of drug treatment irrespective of treatment group assignment and whether tests were normal or abnormal at baseline, and an eDISH display approach appears unlikely to be informative. Conclusions Approaches to DILI detection in patients with pre-existing liver disease will require a more nuanced approach to recognize patterns of potential liver injury.

Key Points Patients with clinically decompensated cirrhosis frequently have abnormal biochemical liver tests at baseline, thereby confounding application of current approaches for detecting drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Biochemical liver tests in patients with decompensated cirrhosis exhibit substantial variation over time, with or without exposure to study drug. The application of conventional guidance in diagnosing DILI in p