Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: What is the actual risk of liver damage?

Table 1 Results of population-based studies showing liver toxicity induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Authors	Study design	Incidence rate of hepatotoxicity (ALT ≥ 3 ULN) per 100 000 patient-years (95% CI)
García Rodríguez et al[22], 1992	Retrospective cohort study, cross over design	9/100 000 (6-15)
Traversa et al[23], 2003	Retrospective cohort	1.4/100 000 (1.0-2.1)
de Abajo et al[24], 2004	Retrospective population-based case-control study	2.4/100 000 (2.0-2.8)
Rubenstein et al[26], 2004	Systematic review (hospitalization or death)	3.1 to 23.4/100 000
Rostom et al[21], 2005	Systematic review	0.29/100 000 (0.17-0.51)
Laine et al[25], 2009	Long-term prospective trial	2.1/100 000 (1.9-2.3)

ALT: Alanine transaminase; ULN: Upper limit of normal; CI: Confidence interval.