%0 Journal Article
%T Favipiravir-induced inflammatory and hydropic degenerative liver injury in rats.
%A Bilici S
%A Altuner D
%A Suleyman Z
%A Bulut S
%A Sarigul C
%A Gulaboglu M
%A Altindag F
%A Ozcicek A
%A Gursul C
%A Suleyman H
%J Adv Clin Exp Med
%V 32
%N 8
%D Aug 2023 8
%M 36753378
%F 1.736
%R 10.17219/acem/159089
%X BACKGROUND: Favipiravir is very effective in the treatment of many viral infections, especially at high doses. It was used at such doses to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the pandemic. However, liver damage was reported in patients undergoing such treatment.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low and high doses of favipiravir on the liver of rats, using biochemical and histopathological methods.
METHODS: Wistar albino rats were allocated to one of 3 groups, namely a healthy group (HG), a 100 mg/kg favipiravir (FAV-100) group and a 400 mg/kg favipiravir (FAV-400) group. Favipiravir was administered orally at 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses to the FAV-100 (n = 6) and FAV-400 (n = 6) groups, respectively. Distilled water was administered orally (1 mL) using the same method to the HG (n = 6). This procedure was repeated twice a day for 1 week. At the end of this period, the animals were euthanized with a high dose of thiopental anesthesia (50 mg/kg) and their liver tissues were removed.
RESULTS: Favipiravir caused an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the liver tissue, as well as elevated alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the blood. Moreover, favipiravir caused a decrease in total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. In addition, severe edema, lymphocyte infiltration and hydropic degeneration were observed in the liver tissue of the FAV-400.
CONCLUSIONS: High-dose favipiravir caused more significant oxidative and inflammatory damage in the liver tissue of rats than low-dose favipiravir.