Aspirin Found To Prevent Liver Damage

Aspirin may prevent liver damage in millions of people suffering from side effects of common drugs, alcohol abuse, and obesity-related liver disease, a new study suggests.

The study in the January 26, 2009, issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation revealed that in mice, aspirin reduced mortality caused by an overdose of acetaminophen, mostly known by the brand name Tylenol. It additionally revealed that a class of molecules known as toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonists, which block receptors known to activate inflammation, have a similar effect as aspirin. Since these agents seem to work by reducing injury-induced inflammation, the findings suggest aspirin may help prevent and treat liver damage from a host of noninfectious causes, according to Wajahat Mehal, M.D., from the section of digestive diseases and department of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, CT, USA).

"Many agents such as drugs and alcohol cause liver damage, and we have found two ways to block a central pathway responsible for such liver injury,” Dr. Mehal said. "Our strategy is to use aspirin on a daily basis to prevent liver injury, but if it occurs, to use TLR antagonists to treat it.”

Potential drugs that have failed clinical trials because of liver toxicity might be revived if combined with aspirin, according to Dr. Mehal. "This offers the exciting possibility of reducing a lot of pain and suffering in patients with liver diseases, using a new and very practical approach,” concluded Dr. Mehal.

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