[Non-steroidal antirheumatic therapy and the liver].

In 161 patients with rheumatoid arthritis a raised activity of alkaline serum phosphatase was found in 37.3% and identified as hepatic phosphatase by means of heat inactivation, and partly by determination of isoenzymes using the Polyacrylamidgel-electrophoresis. This relatively frequent finding may be explained as toxic hepatic damage due to antirheumatic therapy, and a drug-induced cholestasis. This is caused by several non steroidal antirheumatic drugs, especially upon longer administration, or in higher dosage or both, may be acting as potential hepatotoxic. Therefore, the control of alkaline serum phosphatase and gamma-GT before and during the antirheumatic treatment is recommended.