NAT2 slow acetylator is associated with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury severity in Indonesian population

Aim: We investigated the contribution of NAT2 variants and acetylator status to anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (AT-DILI) severity. Materials & methods: 100 patients with clinically severe AT-DILI and 210 non-AT-DILI controls were subjected to NAT2 genotyping by direct DNA sequencing. Results: NAT2 slow acetylator was significantly associated with AT-DILI risk (p = 2.7 × 10^-7; odds ratio [95% CI] = 3.64 [2.21-6.00]). Subgroup analysis of NAT2 ultra-slow acetylator revealed a stronger association with AT-DILI risk (p = 4.3 × 10^-6; odds ratio [95% CI] = 3.37 [2.00-5.68]). Subset analysis of NAT2 acetylator status and severity grade confirmed these results in AT-DILI patients with more severe disease whereas fast and intermediate acetylator phenotypes were associated with a decreased AT-DILI risk. Conclusion: We elucidated the role of NAT2 phenotypes in AT-DILI in Indonesian population, suggesting that NAT2 genotype and phenotype determination are important to reduce AT-DILI risk.