USMLE · Question #286
Which of the following drugs is associated with the reaction of hepatitis?
The correct answer is C. Isoniazid. Isoniazid (INH), a first-line antituberculosis drug, is the classic cause of drug-induced hepatitis - approximately 10–20% of patients develop elevated transaminases, and ~1% progress to clinical hepatitis, caused by a toxic metabolite (acetylhydrazine) produced during…
Question
Which of the following drugs is associated with the reaction of hepatitis?
Options
- AValproic acid
- BQuinidine
- CIsoniazid
- DEthosuximide
How the community answered
(27 responses)- A7% (2)
- B4% (1)
- C78% (21)
- D11% (3)
Explanation
Isoniazid (INH), a first-line antituberculosis drug, is the classic cause of drug-induced hepatitis - approximately 10–20% of patients develop elevated transaminases, and ~1% progress to clinical hepatitis, caused by a toxic metabolite (acetylhydrazine) produced during acetylation. Valproic acid can cause hepatotoxicity (especially in children), but its hallmark adverse effects are hyperammonemia, pancreatitis, and teratogenicity - not hepatitis specifically. Quinidine is associated with cinchonism (tinnitus, headache), thrombocytopenia, lupus-like syndrome, and torsades de pointes - not hepatitis. Ethosuximide's notable adverse effects include Stevens-Johnson syndrome, aplastic anemia, and lupus-like reactions, not hepatitis.
Memory tip: Think "INH = I iNjure Hepatocytes" - isoniazid is the prototypical drug-induced hepatitis agent, and monitoring LFTs is mandatory during TB therapy.
Topics
Community Discussion
No community discussion yet for this question.