Unnoticed Adverse Effect of Isoniazid during Childhood Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment: Hyperuricemia

Abstract

Abstract Objective Isoniazid for 6 to 9 months is the most widely used form of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment. We aimed to assess the adverse effects of isoniazid by using the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and uric acid (SUA) in children and adolescents receiving long-term isoniazid for latent TB infection. Methods The study included children ≤18 years of age who underwent TB preventive treatment with isoniazid (IPT) between 2015 and 2019 at a university hospital. Serum transaminase, SUA, urea, and creatinine levels of patients were measured before the initiation of IPT, 15th day, and once a month during treatment. Patients with ALT, AST, or SUA results above cut-off levels during treatment were evaluated. The final values in follow-up were included in the data analysis. Results A total of 141 children who underwent IPT were included. In total, 70 children had family members with confirmed TB disease, and 71 children had a positive tuberculin skin test. SUA increased above cut-off values in 16 children (11.3%), and half of them had uric acid levels over 7 mg/dL. The median duration of the development of hyperuricemia was 4.0 months. ALT or AST increased above cut-off values in 23 children (16.3%). ALT was above cut-off values in seven patients, AST was high in 20 patients. The median duration to the development of AST and/or ALT levels above cut-off was 4.0 months. Two patients had hepatotoxic transaminase levels. Three patients had both elevated transaminases and SUA levels. Conclusion Isoniazid may also cause hyperuricemia besides elevation in transaminases in children.