#NewsSpeak: daclizumab and liver dysfunction

If you are on daclizumab you need to remain vigilant in relation to its potential to cause liver toxicity. #NewsSpeak #MSBlog 

I was informed this week about a pwMS who was being treated with daclizumab who sadly died from fulminant liver failure. This patient had also recently been started on another symptomatic medication that is in itself associated with acute liver toxicity. So whether or not it was the new drug or daclizumab that caused the liver toxicity is not clear at present. In addition to this case there has also been 4 other cases of serious liver injury in relation to daclizumab. 

Biogen and Abbvie have acted responsibly and notified the EMA who will now review the safety profile of daclizumab to see how common the problem is and whether or not the risk mitigation plan to prevent liver toxicity, and to monitor for it, is sufficiently robust.

The message to pwMS and neurologists is to be aware that this is an ongoing process and that they should remain vigilant for symptoms and signs of liver toxicity in relation to daclizumab. It would also make sense that if you are on daclizumab to avoid, if possible, other medications that are associated with liver toxicity in case there is an interaction between the two. 

Symptoms of liver damage to look out for include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. tiredness, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes) and dark urine. If you develop any of these symptoms I suggest you contact your neurology team so that you can get your liver function tests rechecked urgently. In this particular case the previous liver function tests were normal so this liver failure must of come on very rapidly. 

Jaundice - yellowing of whites of the eyes and skin. 


CoI: multiple

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