OVERVIEW

CASE REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION

CHEMICAL FORMULA AND STRUCTURE

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DRUG	CAS REGISTRY NUMBER	MOLECULAR FORMULA	STRUCTURE
Nimesulide	51803-78-2	C13-H12-N2-O5-S

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

References updated: 01 March 2016

• Zimmerman HJ. Drugs used to treat rheumatic and musculospastic disease. In, Zimmerman HJ. Hepatotoxicity: the adverse effects of drugs and other chemicals on the liver. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1999, pp. 517-53.

  (Expert review of hepatotoxicity published in 1999; nimesulide is described as a newly introduced NSAID that had led to at least 6 reported cases of hepatic injury reported, all from one institution [Van Steenberger 1998]).
• Lewis JH, Stine JG. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and leukotriene receptor antagonists: pathology and clinical presentation of hepatotoxicity. In, Kaplowitz N, DeLeve LD, eds. Drug-induced liver disease. 3rd. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, pp. 369-401.

  (Review of hepatotoxicity of NSAIDs mentions that many cases of hepatotoxicity from nimesulide have been reported).
• Grosser T, Smyth E, FitzGerald GA. Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic agents; pharmacotherapy of gout. In, Brunton LL, Chabner B, Knollman B, eds. Goodman & Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011, pp. 959-1004.

  (Textbook of pharmacology and therapeutics).
• Kromann-Andersen H, Pedersen A. Reported adverse reactions to and consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Denmark over a 17-year period. Dan Med Bull 1988; 35: 187-92. [PubMed: 2966038]

  (Over a 17 year period, 3521 suspected adverse drug reactions due to NSAIDs were reported to a Danish National Registry, of which 3% were liver related, 3% of which [n=3] were fatal, 2 due to benoxaprofen and one to indomethacin; nimesulide was not widely available at this time).
• Hannequin JR, Doffoel M, Schmutz G. [Hepatitis secondary to current non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents]. Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic 1988; 55: 983-8. French. [PubMed: 3070713]

  (Review of published literature on hepatotoxicity of NSAIDs mentions 28 cases attributed to ibuprofen, 21 sulindac, 6 piroxicam, 5 diclofenac, 5 indomethacin, 4 naproxen and 1 fenoprofen; nimesulide was not yet available in France).
• Zimmerman HJ. Update of hepatotoxicity due to classes of drugs in common clinical use: non-steroid drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antihypertensives, and cardiac and psychotropic agents. Semin Liver Dis 1990; 10: 322-8. [PubMed: 2281340]

  (Extensive review of NSAID related liver injury before the wide scale availability of nimesulide).
• Walker AM. Quantitative studies of the risk of serious hepatic injury in persons using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Arthritis Rheum 1997; 40: 201-8. [PubMed: 9041931]

  (Review of population based studies of NSAID use and hepatic injury; frequency of clinically apparent liver injury from NSAIDs overall was ~10 cases per 100,000 patient-years of use; studies were conducted before the availability of nimesulide).
• Bessone F, Fay F, Fay O, Vorobioff J, Passamonti ME, Godoy A, Tanno H. Nimesulide hepatotoxicity. Hepatology 1997; 26 (Suppl 4): 483A. Not in PubMed.

  (Abstract: 12 patients with suspected nimesulide hepatotoxicity were seen over a 10 year period; 8 with jaundice, 9 pruritus, mean latency 25 days [mean bilirubin 3.4 mg/dL, ALT 276 U/L, Alk P 115 U/L], all recovered an average of 55 days after stopping).
• Rainsford KD. An analysis from clinico-epidemiological data of the principal adverse events from the COX-2 selective NSAID, nimesulide, with particular reference to hepatic injury. Inflammopharmacology 1998; 6: 203-21. [PubMed: 17657620]

  (Retrospective summary of adverse events from clinical trials of nimesulide found ALT or AST elevations in 1-10% of patients, but degree of monitoring not described; there were 25 cases of hepatic injury reported worldwide after sales of at least 130 million doses, some cases resulting in hospitalization and some in death, but in many "the association could be questioned").
• Van Steenbergen W, Peeters P, De Bondt J, Staessen D, Büscher H, Laporta T, Roskams T, Desmet V. Nimesulide-induced acute hepatitis: evidence from six cases. J Hepatol 1998; 29: 135-41. [PubMed: 9696502]

  (Description of 6 cases of suspected nimesulide liver injury seen over a 9 month period at a single referral center in Belgium included 4 women and 2 men, ages 39 to 71 years, taking drug for 1-15 weeks [bilirubin 2-30 mg/dL, ALT 3-23 times ULN, Alk P 1.4-2.8 times ULN], two cholestatic and 4 hepatocellular, one severe, all resolving slowly within 6-17 months of stopping).
• Grignola JC, Arias L, Rondan M, Sola L, Bagnulo H. [Hepatotoxicity associated with nimesulide]. Arch Med Int 1998; Unknown: 13-18. Not in PubMed.

  (Case report mentioned in Hernández [1014]).
• McCormick PA, Kennedy F, Curry M, Traynor Ol. COX-2 inhibition and fulminant hepatic failure Lancet 1999; 353 (9146): 40-1. [PubMed: 10023957]

  (58 year old woman developed jaundice after several months of intermittent courses of nimesulide [bilirubin 16.9 mg/dL, ALT 1046 U/L, Alk P not given, INR 12], with progressive hepatic failure and death shortly after liver transplantation: Case 1).
• Villa G. NSAIDs and hepatic reactions. Lancet 1999; 353: 846. [PubMed: 10459994]

  (Letter in response to McCormick [1999] arguing caution in attributing the liver injury to nimesulide).
• Weiss P, Mouallem M, Bruck R, Hassin D, Tanay A, Brickman CM, Farfel Z, et al. Nimesulide-induced hepatitis and acute liver failure. Isr Med Assoc J 1999; 1: 89-91. [PubMed: 10731303]

  (Six cases of suspected nimesulide hepatotoxicity; 5 women and 1 man, ages 18 to 70 years, with onset after 2 weeks to 4 months, 5 being anicteric [3 hepatocellular, 2 cholestatic enzyme elevations], these 5 resolving in 1-3 months of stopping, but one case of jaundice, acute liver failure and death).
• Romero Gómez M, Nevado Santos M, Fobelo MJ, Castro Fernández M. [Nimesulide acute hepatitis: description of 3 cases]. Med Clin(Barc) 1999; 113(9): 357-8. Spanish. [PubMed: 10562933]

  (3 cases of acute hepatitis attributed to nimesulide seen at a single center, all women, ages 61-65 years, onset after 1-2 months with jaundice and hepatocellular enzyme elevations [bilirubin 7.8, 13.6 and 24 mg/dL, ALT 483, 1234 and 4023 U/L, Alk P 310, 456 and 675 U/L], resolving within 1-4 months of stopping).
• Schattner A, Sokolovskaya N, Cohen J. Fatal hepatitis and renal failure during treatment with nimesulide. J Intern Med 2000; 247: 153-5. [PubMed: 10672143]

  (70 year old woman developed jaundice a few days after a 5 day course of nimesulide [bilirubin 12.6 mg/dL, ALT 1240 U/L, Alk P 285 U/L, INR 2.3], with progressive hepatic failure and death 3 weeks later).
• Elmalem E. Nimesulide, clavulanic acid and hepatitis. J Intern Med 2000; 248: 168-9. [PubMed: 10947899]

  (Letter in response to Schattner [2000] from the sponsor raising issue of the possible role of amoxicillin/clavulanate and mentioning the new recommendation for liver enzyme monitoring during therapy with nimesulide).
• Ferreiro C, Vivas S, Jorquera F, Domínguez AB, Espinel J, Muñoz F, Herrera A, et al. [Toxic hepatitis caused by nimesulide, presentation of a new case and review of the literature]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2000; 23: 428-30. Spanish. [PubMed: 11126038]

  (72 year old woman developed jaundice 15 days after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 7.8 mg/dL, ALT 696 U/L, Alk P 452 U/L, eosinophils 5%], resolving within 3 months of stopping).
• Andrade RJ, Lucena MI, Fernández MC, González M. Fatal hepatitis associated with nimesulide. J Hepatol 2000; 32: 174. [PubMed: 10673086]

  (66 year old woman developed jaundice 8 months after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 18.4 mg/dL, ALT 885 U/L, Alk P not given, prothrombin index 35%], with progressive liver failure and death 8 days later).
• Rodrigues de Oliveira J, Correia J, Silvestre F, Meirelles A, Bernardo A. [Severe acute hepatitis probably induced by nimesulide]. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 2000; 24: 592-3. French. [PubMed: 10891757]

  (47 year old man on nimesulide for several years developed nausea one month after restarting nimesulide after hernia surgery [and cefazolin] followed by jaundice 2 months later [bilirubin 7.9 mg/dL, ALT 93 times ULN, Alk P 1.5 times ULN, prothrombin time 42 sec], with subsequent ascites and peak bilirubin of 17.8 mg/dL, ultimately resolving).
• Pérez-Moreno J, Llerena Guerrero RM, Puertas Montenegro M, Jiménez Arjona MJ. [Nimesulide toxic hepatitis in pregnancy]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2000; 23: 498-9. Spanish. [PubMed: 11149228]

  (22 year old woman, 5 weeks pregnant, developed jaundice 5 days after starting nimesulide for a sprained ankle [bilirubin 4.7 mg/dL, ALT 635 U/L, Alk P 309 U/L], resolving within a month of stopping).
• Bessone F, Tanno H. [Hepatotoxicity induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2000; 23: 200-5. [PubMed: 10863862]

  (Review of drug induced liver injury due to NSAIDs mentions that nimesulide was approved in Argentina in 1986 and during the ensuing 10 years, they observed 12 patients with acute liver injury, usually cholestatic and self-limited, but also with hepatocellular injury that can be severe and even fatal).
• Sbeit W, Krivoy N, Shiller M, Farah R, Cohen HI, Struminger L, Reshef R. Nimesulide-induced acute hepatitis. Ann Pharmacother 2001; 35: 1049-52. [PubMed: 11573855]

  (54 year old woman developed fever and jaundice two months after starting nimesulide for low back pain [bilirubin 12.9 mg/dL, ALT 2842 U/L, Alk P 748 U/L, INR 1.59, eosinophils 9%], with resolution within 2 months of stopping).
• Montesinos S, Hallal H, Rausell V, Conesa F, López A. [Nimesulide-induced acute hepatitis]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001; 24: 219-20. Spanish. [PubMed: 11333664]

  (64 year old man developed jaundice 6 months after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 17.6 mg/dL, ALT 1705 U/L, Alk P 512 U/L], resolving once the drug was stopped).
• Knowles S, Shapiro L, Shear NH. Should celecoxib be contraindicated in patients who are allergic to sulfonamides? Revisiting the meaning of 'sulfa' allergy. Drug Saf 2001; 24: 239-47. [PubMed: 11330653]

  (Analysis of data on hypersensitivity reactions to sulfonamides and subsequent risk of hypersensitivity reactions to celecoxib and other sulfonamide-like drugs found little evidence for cross sensitivity).
• Conforti A, Leone R, Moretti U, Mozzo F, Velo G. Adverse drug reactions related to the use of NSAIDs with a focus on nimesulide: results of spontaneous reporting from a Northern Italian area. Drug Saf 2001; 24: 1081-90. [PubMed: 11735663]

  (Analysis of spontaneous adverse event reports attributed to nimesulide over a 13 year period in Northern Italy found 207 reports mostly of gastrointestinal complaints, with only 4 reports of hepatitis and 3 of Stevens Johnson syndrome).
• Merlani G, Fox M, Oehen HP, Cathomas G, Renner EL, Fattinger K, Schneemann M, et al. Fatal hepatoxicity secondary to nimesulide. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2001; 57: 321-6. [PubMed: 11549211]

  (57 year old woman developed jaundice 3 months after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 28.6 mg/dL, ALT 2786 U/L, Alk P 225 U/L, prothrombin index 32%], with progressive liver failure, oliguria and death 3 weeks after presentation).
• Dumortier J, Borel I, Delafosse B, Vial T, Scoazec JY, Boillot O. [Subfulminant hepatitis associated with nimesulide treatment requiring liver transplantation]. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 2002; 26: 415-6. French. [PubMed: 12070417]

  (51 year old man developed fatigue 14 days after a 7 day course of nimesulide followed by jaundice [bilirubin 17.7 mg/dL, ALT 50 times ULN, Alk P 10 times ULN, prothrombin index 24%], with subsequent liver failure and successful liver transplantation 14 days later).
• Gatti S, Bertazzoli M. Evaluation of isolated case reports on hepatotoxicity. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 57: 919-20; author reply 921-2. [PubMed: 11936716]

  (Letter in response to Merlani [2001] questioning the validity of reporting isolated cases of liver injury during drug therapy as opposed to providing an absolute risk assessment in prospective studies).
• Rodrigo L, de Francisco R, Pérez-Pariente JM, Cadahia V, Tojo R, Rodriguez M, Lucena MI, Andrade RJ. Nimesulide-induced severe hemolytic anemia and acute liver failure leading to liver transplantation. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002; 37: 1341-3. [PubMed: 12465736]

  (63 year old woman developed jaundice 7 months after starting nimesulide for osteoarthritis [bilirubin 33.9 mg/dL, ALT 143 U/L, Alk P 1099 U/L], which was complicated by severe hemolytic anemia with hepatic failure and death 23 days after admission).
• Gallego Rojo FJ, Fernández Pérez F, Fernández Pérez R, Porcel A, Blas JM, Díez F. [Nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity]. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2002; 94: 41-2. Spanish. [PubMed: 12073669]

  (83 year old man developed jaundice 2 weeks after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 6.3 mg/dL, ALT 811 U/L, Alk P 780 U/L], resolving within 2 months of stopping).
• Stadlmann S, Zoller H, Vogel W, Offner FA. COX-2 inhibitor (nimesulide) induced acute liver failure. Virchows Arch 2002; 440: 553-5. [PubMed: 12021934]

  (36 year old woman developed abdominal pain and confusion one month after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 2.2 mg/dL, ALT 1115 U/L, Alk P not given, prothrombin index 39%], biopsy showing centrolobular, confluent necrosis, yet with resolution within 3 weeks of stopping).
• Boelsterli UA. Mechanisms of NSAID-induced hepatotoxicity: focus on nimesulide. Drug Saf 2002; 25: 633-48. [PubMed: 12137558]

  (Review of the possible mechanisms of hepatic injury caused by NSAIDs with focus on nimesulide, described as a rare cause of hepatotoxicity).
• Maciá MA, Carvajal A, del Pozo JG, Vera E, del Pino A. Hepatotoxicity associated with nimesulide: data from the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002; 72: 596-7. [PubMed: 12426524]

  (Analysis of Spanish Pharmacovigilance Database found that among NSAIDs, nimesulide was associated with the highest rate of liver injury [29 cases, ~1:15,000 persons exposed], the second being meloxicam [16 cases: ~1:70,000]).
• Traversa G, Bianchi C, Da Cas R, Abraha I, Menniti-Ippolito F, Venegoni M. Cohort study of hepatotoxicity associated with nimesulide and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. BMJ 2003; 327(7405): 18-22. [PMC free article: PMC164233] [PubMed: 12842950]

  (Retrospective study of all patients prescribed nimesulide in a region of Northern Italy between 1997 and 2001 identified 17 cases of acute liver injury with hospitalization [one fatal] among 187,312 users, yielding an overall rate of 1.3 per 100,000 person-years, minimally greater than with other NSAIDs).
• Papaioannides D, Korantzopoulos P, Athanassiou E, Sinapidis D. Nimesulide-induced acute hepatotoxicity. Indian J Gastroenterol 2003; 22: 239. [PubMed: 15030049]

  (62 year old man developed jaundice 1 week after starting nimesulide for .gonarthritic pain. [bilirubin 4.2 mg/dL, ALT 1270 U/L, Alk P 185 U/L, INR normal], resolving within 4 weeks of stopping).
• Ozgür O, Hacihasanoglu A, Karti SS, Ovali E. Nimesulide-induced fulminant hepatitis. Turk J Gastroenterol 2003; 14: 208-10. [PubMed: 14655069]

  (18 year old boy developed jaundice 3 days after starting nimesulide for a muscle strain [bilirubin 3.6 mg/dL, ALT 1528 U/L, Alk P 510 U/L, INR 1.9], with confusion and ascites, but eventual resolution within 1 month of stopping).
• Castañeda Hernández G, Barragán Padilla SB. [Hepatotoxicity of nimesulide]. Gac Med Mex 2004; 140: 679. Spanish. [PubMed: 15633581]

  (Letter to the editor cautioning against use of nimesulide in Mexico in view of it having been withdrawn in Finland, Spain and Portugal because of hepatotoxicity).
• Lacroix I, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Bagheri H, Pathak A, Montastruc JL; Club de Reflexion des cabinets de Groupe de Gastro-Enterologie (CREGG); General Practitioner Networks. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced liver injury: a case-control study in primary care. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2004; 18: 201-6. [PubMed: 15066135]

  (Case controlled study of patients presenting with suspected drug induced liver injury in a general practice context in Southern France between 1998 and 2001 found 88 cases which were matched with 178 controls; 22 cases vs 16 controls had been exposed to NSAIDs; 5 diclofenac, 4 ibuprofen, 4 ketoprofen, 2 niflumic acid, 1 flurbiprofen and 1 meloxicam, the rest to salicylates which were as frequently used in controls as cases; there were no fatalities and cases were more common in women than men, no mention of nimesulide).
• Rubenstein JH, Laine L. Systematic review: the hepatotoxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004; 20: 373-80. [PubMed: 15298630]

  (NSAIDs are the most commonly used drugs in the US and account for a large proportion of cases of hepatic injury, but the frequency is quite rare. Among 7 population based studies, hospitalization occurred in 22.4/100,000 patient-years of NSAID use [33.1/100,000 for nimesulide] and deaths from liver injury occurred in ~1/100,000 patient-years; in case controlled studies, higher odds ratio for liver injury was found with sulindac and nimesulide).
• Gallelli L, Ferraro M, Mauro GF, De Fazio S, De Sarro G. Nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity in a previously healthy woman. Clin Drug Investig 2005; 25: 421-4. [PubMed: 17532683]

  (70 year old woman developed nausea and fatigue within 8 hours of taking a single tablet of nimesulide [bilirubin 0.9 mg/dL, ALT 224 U/L, Alk P 65 U/L, INR 2.3], values falling into the normal range within 7 days).
• Giannattasio A, D'Ambrosi M, Volpicelli M, Iorio R. Steroid therapy for a case of severe drug-induced cholestasis. Ann Pharmacother 2006; 40: 1196-9. [PubMed: 16720710]

  (15 year old girl developed jaundice 15 days after starting clarithromycin and nimesulide for a respiratory tract infection [bilirubin 10.6 rising to 25.6 mg/dL, ALT 69 U/L, GGT normal], with severe itching treated with ursodiol and corticosteroids, resolving slowly by 3 months after stopping both drugs).
• Polimeni G, Salvo F, Cutroneo P, Morreale I, Patrizio Caputi A. Adverse reactions induced by NSAIDs and antibacterials: analysis of spontaneous reports from the Sicilian regional database. Drug Saf 2006; 29 (5): 449-59. [PubMed: 16689558]

  (Analysis of spontaneous adverse reactions reported to Sicilian registries between 1998 and 2004 found 108 serious reactions to NSAIDs, with disproportional reports of hepatitis from nimesulide [3 cases resulting in liver transplantation]).
• Lapeyre-Mestre M, de Castro AM, Bareille MP, Garcia del Pozo J, Requejo AA, Arias LM, Montastruc J-L, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related hepatic damage in France and Spain: analysis from national spontaneous reporting systems. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2006; 20: 391-5. [PubMed: 16867024]

  (Analysis of adverse event reports from NSAIDs from France and Spain from 1982-2001; the proportion of reports that were hepatic was high for nimesulide in Spain [17.3%] and France [16.1%], but the odds ratio was elevated for hepatic injuries and nimesulide only in Spain [6.04]).
• Arellano FM, Yood MU, Wentworth CE, Oliveria SA, Rivero E, Verman A, Rothman K. Use of cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors (COX-2) and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in UK and USA populations Implications for COX-2 cardiovascular profile. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2006; 15: 861-72. [PubMed: 17086563]

  (Surveys from the UK and USA indicate that ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac were the most commonly used NSAIDs; nimesulide was not among the top 10 agents used).
• Sanchez-Matienzo D, Arana A, Castellsague J, Perez-Gutthann S. Hepatic disorders in patients treated with COX-2 selective inhibitors or nonselective NSAIDs: a case/noncase analysis of spontaneous reports. Clin Ther 2006; 28: 1123-32. [PubMed: 16982289]

  (Analysis of large databases from the FDA and WHO on spontaneous reports of adverse reactions to NSAIDs found the highest proportion of hepatic injury reports for nimesulide, bromfenac, diclofenac and sulindac compared to other NSAIDs).
• Aithal GP, Day CP. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Clin Liver Dis 2007; 11: 563-75, vi-vii. [PubMed: 17723920]

  (Review of NSAID induced liver injury mentions that nimesulide was never marketed in the US, but was available in over 50 countries and the most commonly prescribed NSAID in Italy and Portugal despite its withdrawal in Finland and Spain because of hepatotoxicity).
• Tan HH, Ong WM, Lai SH, Chow WC. Nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity and fatal hepatic failure. Singapore Med J 2007; 48: 582-5. [PubMed: 17538762]

  (Three Chinese adults, two women and one man, ages 54-71 years, developed jaundice 19-28 days after starting nimesulide [bilirubin 3.6, 3.1 and 45.3 mg/dL, ALT 23-31 times ULN], two resolving after stopping and one developed fatal acute liver failure, an autopsy revealing cirrhosis).
• Dastis SN, Rahier J, Lerut J, Geubel AP. Liver transplantation for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced liver failure: nimesulide as the first implicated compound. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 19: 919-22. [PubMed: 18049158]

  (Among 57 patients undergoing liver transplantation for acute liver failure during a 17 year period at a single referral center in Belgium, 5 were attributed to NSAIDs including 3 to nimesulide; 22-59 year old women exposed for 2 days to 2 months [bilirubin 10-22 mg/dL, ALT 21-34 times ULN], successfully transplanted within 1-7 days of presentation with encephalopathy).
• Bissoli F. Negrin Dastis S. et al.: Liver transplantation for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced liver failure: nimesulide as the first implicated compound. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008; 20: 1122. [PubMed: 18049158]

  (Letter in response to Dastis [2007] arguing that case reports of drug induced acute liver failure provide a safety signal, but only prospective studies can provide information of the frequency of liver injury and establish causality).
• Bissoli F. Nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity and fatal hepatic failure. Singapore Med J 2008; 49: 436-7; author reply 438. [PubMed: 18465058]

  (Letter in response to Tan [2007] stressing that acute liver failure from nimesulide is very rare).
• Chatterjee S, Pal J, Biswas N. Nimesulide-induced hepatitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis. J Postgrad Med 2008; 54: 150-1. [PubMed: 18480536]

  (21 year old woman developed extensive exfoliative rash 5 days after starting nimesulide followed by fever and jaundice [bilirubin 3.4 mg/dL, ALT 340 U/L, Alk P 696 U/L], with prolonged hospital stay and corticosteroid therapy, but ultimate full recovery).
• Page M, Christin F, Hayi-Slayman D, Baillon JJ, Ber CE, Delafosse B, Dumortier J, Rimmelé. [Acute liver failure due to a treatment by nimesulide: another case and review]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2008; 27: 742-6. French. [PubMed: 18760563]

  (49 year old woman developed acute liver failure one month after a 3 day course of nimesulide [bilirubin and Alk P not given, ALT 1435 U/L, prothrombin index 24%], undergoing successful emergency liver transplantation).
• Koller T, Banárová A, Ondrias F, Kollerová J, Payer J. [Acute cholestasis following treatment with nimesulide and oral contraception: case report and review]. Vnitr Lek 2008; 54: 665-9. Slovak. [PubMed: 18672579]

  (42 year old woman developed jaundice one month after a 10 day course of nimesulide having been on birth control pills for 8 years [bilirubin 11 mg/dL, ALT 175 U/L, Alk P 180 U/L], with bland cholestasis on liver biopsy and recovery within two months).
• Walker SL, Kennedy F, Niamh N, McCormick PA. Nimesulide associated fulminant hepatic failure. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2008; 17: 1108-12. [PubMed: 18821716]

  (Retrospective analysis of all cases of acute liver failure of unknown cause undergoing liver transplantation at a single center in Ireland between 1994 and 2007 found 6 probably due to nimesulide: 5 women and 1 man, ages 23-61 years, on drug for 1 week to 2 months of whom 2 died and 4 underwent successful liver transplant).
• Chalasani N, Fontana RJ, Bonkovsky HL, Watkins PB, Davern T, Serrano J, Yang H, Rochon J; Drug Induced Liver Injury Network(DILIN). Causes, clinical features, and outcomes from a prospective study of drug-induced liver injury in the United States. Gastroenterology 2008; 135: 1924-34. [PMC free article: PMC3654244] [PubMed: 18955056]

  (Among 300 cases of drug induced liver disease in the US collected from 2004 to 2008, NSAIDs were implicated as a sole agent in 8 cases [4 diclofenac, 2 celecoxib, 1 meloxicam and 1 oxaprozin] and as one of several agents in 3 cases [1 diclofenac, 1 celecoxib, 1 ibuprofen]; none were attributed to fenoprofen).
• Leone R, Sottosanti L, Luisa Iorio M, Santuccio C, Conforti A, Sabatini V, Moretti U, et al. Drug-related deaths: an analysis of the Italian spontaneous reporting database. Drug Saf 2008; 31: 703-13. [PubMed: 18636789]

  (Analysis of fatal adverse drug reactions reported to an Italian registry between 2001 and 2006, identified 450 case reports implicated 222 different drugs, the most common being antiinfectives and antineoplastic agents, specific agents being ceftriaxone [n=24], triclopidine [22], nimesulide [17], amiodarone [13], allopurinol [12], simvastatin [12] and acetaminophen [10]).
• Betrosian AP, Flevari K, Andrianakis I, Boudouri I, Douzinas EE. Severe hemolytic anemia and fatal hepatic failure associated with nimesulide. Dig Liver Dis 2009; 41: 80. [PubMed: 18778975]

  (61 year old woman developed jaundice 3 months after starting nimesulide which was used intermittently [bilirubin 11.2 mg/dL, ALT 762 U/L, INR 3.9, hemoglobin 6 g/dL, LDH 8867 U/L, direct Coombs positivity], dying of liver failure within 4 days of presentation).
• Wang YP, Shi B, Chen YX, Xu J, Jiang CF, Xie WF. Drug-induced liver disease: an 8-year study of patients from one gastroenterological department. J Dig Dis 2009; 10: 195-200. [PubMed: 19659787]

  (Retrospective analysis of 30 cases of drug induced liver injury seen in a single referral center in Shanghai between 2000-2007 found one case due to nimesulide: 58 year old woman treated for 2 weeks developed hepatocellular liver injury [bilirubin 1.5 mg/dL, ALT 20 times ULN, Alk P 1.1 times ULN], resolving promptly with stopping nimesulide).
• Altwegg R. [Acute liver failure due to a treatment by nimesulide]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2009; 28: 262-3. French. [PubMed: 19195818]

  (Letter in response to Page [2008) questioning the attribution of the injury to nimesulide, which had been stopped two months before onset).
• Lukic S. S, Krstic M, Damjanov N, Boricic I, Popovic D, Djuranovic S, Kovacevic N, et al. [Cholestatic hepatitis associated with nimesulide--a case report]. Srp Arh Celok Lek 2009 Sep-Oct; 137 (9-10): 550-3. Serbian. [PubMed: 19950766]

  (Abstract: 73 year old woman developed acute liver failure 2 months after starting nimesulide, recovering upon stopping).
• Licata A, Calvaruso V, Cappello M, Craxì, Almasio PL. Clinical course and outcomes of drug-induced liver injury: nimesulide as the first implicated medication. Dig Liver Dis 2010; 42: 143-8. [PubMed: 19625223]

  (Among 46 patients with drug induced liver injury seen at a single referral center in Italy over a 10 year period, 14 [30%] were attributed to nimesulide, 7 men and 7 women, mean age 58 years, 11 with jaundice including 3 cases of acute liver failure and 1 death, others recovering in an average of 4 weeks with normal liver tests in follow up).
• Lee CH, Wang JD, Chen PC. Increased risk of hospitalization for acute hepatitis in patients with previous exposure to NSAIDs. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2010; 19: 708-14. [PubMed: 20582911]

  (Analysis of hospitalizations for acute, non-viral hepatitis in Taiwan been 2001 and 2004 found 4519 cases with an increased odds ratio for use of NSAIDs within the previous month, highest for nimesulide, ibuprofen and diclofenac).
• Bessone F. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: What is the actual risk of liver damage? World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16: 5651-61. [PMC free article: PMC2997980] [PubMed: 21128314]

  (Review of estimated frequency of drug induced liver injury due to NSAIDs from large published epidemiological studies; largest series on nimesulide was from Argentina with 43 cases, 70% with jaundice, usually arising 15-90 days after starting, 6 with acute liver failure and 2 deaths).
• Reuben A, Koch DG, Lee WM; Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Drug-induced acute liver failure: results of a U.S. multicenter, prospective study. Hepatology 2010; 52: 2065-76. [PMC free article: PMC3992250] [PubMed: 20949552]

  (Among 1198 patients with acute liver failure enrolled in a US prospective study between 1998 and 2007, 133 were attributed to drug induced liver injury and 7 to NSAIDs, including 4 to bromfenac, 2 diclofenac and 1 etodolac, but none to nimesulide which was never marketed in the US).
• Bessone F, Colombato L, Fassio E, Reggiardo M, Vorobioff J, Tanno H. The spectrum of nimesulide induced hepatotoxicity. An overview. Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem 2010; 9: 355-65. Not in PubMed.

  (Mentioned in Hernáez [2014]).
• Gulmez SE, Larrey D, Pageaux GP, Lignot S, Lassalle R, Jové J, Gatta A, et al. Transplantation for acute liver failure in patients exposed to NSAIDs or paracetamol (acetaminophen): the multinational case-population SALT study. Drug Saf 2013; 36: 135-44. [PMC free article: PMC3568201] [PubMed: 23325533]

  (Among 600 patients undergoing liver transplantation for acute liver failure at 52 European liver transplant centers between 2005 and 2007, 301 were considered idiopathic and had received a medication within 30 days of onset, including acetaminophen in 192 and NSAIDs in 40 cases of which nimesulide was used in 8 for an estimated rate of 1.88 case per million treatment-years).
• Lapeyre-Mestre M, Grolleau S, Montastruc JL; Association Française des Centres Régionaux de Pharmacovigilance (CRPV). Adverse drug reactions associated with the use of NSAIDs: a case/noncase analysis of spontaneous reports from the French pharmacovigilance database 2002-2006. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2013; 27: 223-30. [PubMed: 21929527]

  (Analysis of serious adverse events reporting to a French pharmacovigilance database found highest cumulative rates for liver related reports for nimesulide [0.15 per million defined daily doses], followed by diclofenac [0.09], ketoprofen [0.09], piroxicam [0.06], naproxen [0.04] and meloxicam [0.03] being significant in case/noncase analyses for nimesulide, diclofenac and piroxicam only).
• Björnsson ES, Bergmann OM, Björnsson HK, Kvaran RB, Olafsson S. Incidence, presentation and outcomes in patients with drug-induced liver injury in the general population of Iceland. Gastroenterology 2013; 144: 1419-25. [PubMed: 23419359]

  (In a population based study of drug induced liver injury from Iceland, 96 cases were identified over a 2 year period, but none were attributed to nimesulide, probably because it is not marketed in Iceland).
• Hernández N, Bessone F, Sánchez A, di Pace M, Brahm J, Zapata R, A Chirino R, et al. Profile of idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury in Latin America: an analysis of published reports. Ann Hepatol 2014; 13: 231-9. [PubMed: 24552865]

  (Among 176 published reports of drug induced liver injury between 1996 and 2012, nimesulide was the single most common cause a counting for 53 cases [30%], of which 13 [25%] resulted in acute liver failure).
• Bernardes SS, Souza-Nogueira A, Moreira EG, Kishima MO, Guembarovski AF, Turini TL, Turini CA. Nimesulide-induced fatal acute liver failure in an elderly woman with metastatic biliary adenocarcinoma. A case report. Sao Paulo Med J 2014 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print] [PubMed: 25250798]

  (81 year old woman developed hematemesis 6 days after starting nimesulide and was found to have hypotension, metabolic acidosis and respiratory failure [bilirubin 4.0 mg/dL, ALT 60 U/L, Alk P 260 U/L], with rapid progression to multiorgan failure and death, metastatic bile duct adenocarcinoma and acute hepatic necrosis found on autopsy).
• Bhattacharya PK, Barman B, Roy A, Jamil M, Lyngdoh M, Mishra J. Nimesulide induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and hepatitis: a case report. Springerplus 2015; 4: 302. [PMC free article: PMC4485669] [PubMed: 26155441]

  (38 year old woman developed rash, pruritus and liver injury 4 days after starting nimesulide for fever [bilirubin 6.0 mg/dL, ALT 173 U/L, Alk P 467 U/L, INR 1.47], skin biopsy showing leukocytoclastic vasculitis, resolving with corticosteroid therapy within 3 weeks of stopping nimesulide).
• Chalasani N, Bonkovsky HL, Fontana R, Lee W, Stolz A, Talwalkar J, Reddy KR, et al.; United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network. Features and outcomes of 899 patients with drug-induced liver injury: The DILIN Prospective Study. Gastroenterology 2015; 148: 1340-1352.e7. [PMC free article: PMC4446235] [PubMed: 25754159]

  (Among 899 cases of drug induced liver injury enrolled in a US prospective study between 2004 and 2013, 28 cases were attributed to an NSAID including 15 to diclofenac, 3 celecoxib, 3 meloxicam, 2 oxaprozin, 2 etodolac, and 1 each for ibuprofen, sulindac and valdecoxib, but none for nimesulide which was not marketed in the US).