nerdexam
Test_Prep

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…

Principles of Therapeutics

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)
  • A
    7% (2)
  • B
    4% (1)
  • C
    78% (21)
  • D
    11% (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

#Drug-induced hepatitis#Isoniazid toxicity#Tuberculosis medications#Adverse drug effects

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full USMLE Practice