Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity in people with and without HIV in Thailand and the Philippines

Ryan Christopher Geturbos Atuel; Emmanuel A. Gutierrez; Napon Hiranburana; Tanakorn Apornpong; Sasiwimol Ubolyam; Ma. Tarcela S. Gler; Anchalee Avihingsanon; Sivaporn Gatechompol; Stephen J. Kerr

doi:10.2478/abm-2026-0020

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Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity in people with and without HIV in Thailand and the Philippines

Asian Biomedicine

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 3 (June 2026)

By: Ryan Christopher Geturbos Atuel, Emmanuel A. Gutierrez, Napon Hiranburana, Tanakorn Apornpong, Sasiwimol Ubolyam, Ma. Tarcela S. Gler, Anchalee Avihingsanon, Sivaporn Gatechompol and Stephen J. Kerr

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

Background

Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) is a common complication among people living with HIV (PLWH), potentially leading to treatment interruptions.

Objective

To determine the incidence of DIH and identify risk factors in Thai and Filipino PLWH on tuberculosis (TB) treatment, compared with those with TB mono-infection.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study of Thai and Filipino adults with active TB using retrospective data from Thailand (2000–2024) and prospective data from the Philippines (2024). DIH was defined as AST or ALT ≥3 times the upper limit of normal. Logistic regression was used to assess DIH risk factors among PLWH; TB treatment outcomes were compared by DIH status.

Results

Among 222 participants (138 PLWH, 84 HIV-negative), median age was 38 years, 63% were male, and median body mass index (BMI) was 18.2 kg/m². DIH occurred in 13.8% of PLWH and 9.5% of HIV-negative individuals (P = 0.35), with median onset at 10 and 3 weeks, respectively. Among PLWH, hepatitis C co-infection (aOR 5.84, 95% CI 1.51–22.55, P = 0.01) and lower BMI (aOR 0.78/kg/m², 95% CI 0.63–0.97, P = 0.03) were independently associated with DIH. Dolutegravir use showed a non-significantly lower DIH risk (OR 0.51, 95%CI, 0.18 – 1.42). TB treatment success was similar between those with and without DIH (92.6% vs 90.3%); mortality was slightly higher with DIH (3.7% vs 1.5%).

Conclusions

Hepatitis C co-infection and low BMI are key risk factors for DIH among PLWH receiving TB treatment. Despite these risks, DIH did not significantly impact treatment outcomes.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2026-0020 | Journal eISSN: 1875-855X | Journal ISSN: 1905-7415

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Language: English

Page range: 170 - 181

Published on: Jun 30, 2026

Published by: Chulalongkorn University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

anti-tuberculosis therapy,

drug-induced hepatotoxicity,

HIV,

TB-HIV,

tuberculosis treatment

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Clinical medicine,

Clinical medicine, other,

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Medicine,

Assistive professions, nursing

© 2026 Ryan Christopher Geturbos Atuel, Emmanuel A. Gutierrez, Napon Hiranburana, Tanakorn Apornpong, Sasiwimol Ubolyam, Ma. Tarcela S. Gler, Anchalee Avihingsanon, Sivaporn Gatechompol, Stephen J. Kerr, published by Chulalongkorn University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 3 (June 2026)