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Too rarely in focus
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Liver damage due to medication

Aus unserer Serie »English Lesson«: The liver has what mankind as a whole desires: a seemingly inexhaustible power to regenerate. Even strong noxious substances, such as intoxication with Paracetamol, are survived by as many as 60 percent of affected patients.
AutorKontaktTranslated by Marta Campbell
Datum 10.06.2025  12:00 Uhr

Knowing the risks

According to the AdkÄ, there are risks of liver damage from medication. The commission cites older patients as being more at risk, partly because they often take several medications. The risk for women doubles from the age of 50. In people of white skin colour, the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in particular damages the liver; in people of Afroamerican origin, it is cotrimoxazole. Other risk factors for liver damage caused by certain medications, such as the antirheumatic and cytostatic drug methotrexate, are obesity, diabetes, alcohol and viral hepatitis. In addition, genetic factors influence the enzymes involved in the breakdown of drugs in the liver and therefore their effectiveness.

Doctors diagnose liver damage using a process of exclusion, taking into account a detailed history of the medication and dietary supplements taken by the patient. In addition, typical liver blood values are determined, as well as serum albumin and the INR (International Normalized Ratio). A reduced serum albumin value may be due to a synthesis defect in the liver. The Quick or INR value indicates blood clotting disorders in the liver. A reduced value indicates impaired function.

Deutsch/German Englisch/English
Antidot Antidote
Appetitlosigkeit Loss of appetite
Blutgerinnung Blood clotting
Blutwerte Blood values
Erbrechen Vomiting
Fasten Fasting
Fieber Fever, Temperature
Gelbsucht Jaundice
Gelenkschmerzen Joint pain
Juckreiz Itching
Leber Liver
Leberschaden Liver damage
Mangelernährung Malnutrition
Nahrungsergänzungsmittel Dietary supplements
Phytopharmaka Phytopharmaceuticals
Regeneration Regeneration
Serumalbumin Serum albumin
Toxizität Toxicity
Überdosierung Overdose
Verfärbung Discoloration
Vocabulary
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