Analysis of the clinical characteristics of the liver injury induced by levetiracetam

OBJECTIVES: Levetiracetam (LEV) has a low risk of hepatotoxicity due to low liver metabolism. Knowledge regarding the association between LEV exposure and liver injury is based mainly on case reports. The purpose of this study is to summarize the clinical features of LEV-induced liver injury. METHODS: We collected literature on liver injury induced by LEV for retrospective analysis from 1999 to April 2021 in Chinese and English. KEY FINDINGS: The median age of 21 patients (13 males and 8 females) was 31 years (range 0.13-76). The median time for liver injury was 19 days (range 3-120). The clinical manifestations of patients ranged from asymptomatic elevated liver enzymes in 5 patients (23.8%) to fever, digestive system symptoms and skin rash in 16 patients (76.2%). The median values of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were 773 IU/L (range 60-4800) and 667.5 IU/L (range 53-10 387), respectively. Liver biopsy demonstrated hepatocellular necrosis. The liver function returned to normal at a median time of 9 days (range 2-270) after discontinuation of LEV. CONCLUSIONS: LEV-induced liver injury is a rare adverse reaction, ranging from asymptomatic elevated transaminases to fulminant liver failure. Patients receiving long-term treatment with LEV should consider monitoring liver function.