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Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ahmad, J; Dellinger, A; Nicoletti, P; Barnhart, HX; Ghabril, M; Fontana, RJ; Navarro, V; Choi, G; Hayashi, PH; Gu, J; Kleiner, D; for the ...
Published in: Am J Gastroenterol
January 1, 2026

INTRODUCTION: Fluoroquinolones (FQ) have a favorable safety profile, but the risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is well described. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and HLA genetic variants associated with FQ-DILI in a large national registry. METHODS: Analysis of FQ-DILI cases enrolled in DILI Network between 2004 and 2022. HLA class I and II alleles were sequenced by the Illumina MiSeq platform. RESULTS: Sixty-one cases (32 ciprofloxacin, 22 levofloxacin, 7 moxifloxacin) were included. Clinical features between the 3 drugs were similar. The median duration of therapy was 7 (range 2-54) days, median age 53 (range 22-80) years, and 67% were female. Median latency to onset was 12 (range 2-1,370) days with 44% hepatocellular, 30% mixed, and 26% cholestatic pattern of liver injury. Median time to recovery was 65 days, but 13% had persistent injury at 6 months, 15% died (11% because of liver failure). Two HLA alleles were associated with an increased risk of liver injury: HLA-DQA1*03:01 (carriage frequency 38% in cases vs 19% in controls) and HLA B*57:01 (15% vs 6%). There was a significant difference between the combined carriage frequency of the 2 alleles of 48% in cases vs 24% controls ( P = 0.0001). No clinical characteristics or outcomes were associated with carriers compared with noncarriers. DISCUSSION: FQ DILI is a class effect that presents with a short latency, variable pattern of liver injury, and carries a significant risk of chronicity and mortality. There is a significant association with HLA-DQA1*03:01 and HLA B*57:01 .

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Gastroenterol

DOI

EISSN

1572-0241

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Volume

121

Issue

1

Start / End Page

151 / 158

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Registries
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Levofloxacin
  • Humans
  • HLA Antigens
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Fluoroquinolones
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ahmad, J., Dellinger, A., Nicoletti, P., Barnhart, H. X., Ghabril, M., Fontana, R. J., … Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. (2026). Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Am J Gastroenterol, 121(1), 151–158. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003457
Ahmad, Jawad, Andrew Dellinger, Paola Nicoletti, Huiman X. Barnhart, Marwan Ghabril, Robert J. Fontana, Victor Navarro, et al. “Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network.Am J Gastroenterol 121, no. 1 (January 1, 2026): 151–58. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003457.
Ahmad J, Dellinger A, Nicoletti P, Barnhart HX, Ghabril M, Fontana RJ, et al. Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Am J Gastroenterol. 2026 Jan 1;121(1):151–8.
Ahmad, Jawad, et al. “Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network.Am J Gastroenterol, vol. 121, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 151–58. Pubmed, doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000003457.
Ahmad J, Dellinger A, Nicoletti P, Barnhart HX, Ghabril M, Fontana RJ, Navarro V, Choi G, Hayashi PH, Gu J, Kleiner D, for the, Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Am J Gastroenterol. 2026 Jan 1;121(1):151–158.

Published In

Am J Gastroenterol

DOI

EISSN

1572-0241

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Volume

121

Issue

1

Start / End Page

151 / 158

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Registries
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Levofloxacin
  • Humans
  • HLA Antigens
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Fluoroquinolones