Drug- and Drug Abuse–Associated Hyperbilirubinemia: Experience With Atazanavir

Jayanta Roy-Chowdhury, Namita Roy-Chowdhury, Irving Listowsky, Allan W. Wolkoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common finding in individuals with a history of substance abuse. Although this may indicate a serious disorder of liver function, this is not always the case. An understanding of bilirubin formation, metabolism, and transport can provide a helpful approach to dealing with these patients. This is typified by studies of patients treated with the antiretroviral drug atazanavir. Atazanavir has been associated with hyperbilirubinemia in as many as one-third of individuals for whom it has been prescribed, evoking concerns of hepatotoxicity. The studies in this report were designed to determine mechanisms by which this occurs. The data show that this drug inhibits the enzyme UDP-glucuronosyl transferase-1A1, responsible for conjugating bilirubin with glucuronic acid. This conjugation step is required for bilirubin excretion into bile, and when it is inhibited, bilirubin refluxes from the liver into the circulation, causing unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Other parameters of bilirubin formation, binding to albumin in the circulation, uptake into hepatocytes, and intracellular protein binding in hepatocytes were unaffected by atazanavir. The effect of atazanavir on serum bilirubin levels is reversible, consistent with lack of structural damage to the liver.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-146
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Pharmacology in Drug Development
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • UDP-glucuronosyl transferase
  • atazanavir
  • drug toxicity
  • hyperbilirubinemia
  • transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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