Biochemical Indices of Drug Toxicity

Generally, drugs or chemicals have the potential to trigger unpleasant responses when taken in excess. Changes in biochemical markers provide information on the mechanism of toxicity, the functional state of important organ systems, and the identification of target tissues (liver, kidney, hematopoietic and immune systems, etc.). This is because variations in the levels of enzymes and non-enzymes in the serum signal tissue or cellular damage, which results in an abnormal release of intracellular components into circulation. It is, thus, important to understand the biochemical indices involved in drug toxicity to enable rapid response, which may include withdrawal of toxic agent. The biochemical indicators of drug toxicity, as well as the basis behind the measurement of enzymes or proteins implicated in drug toxicity, are covered in this chapter. This chapter will detail the kidney, liver, and cardiac function tests used, as well as the interpretation of results. We’ll also go through what we know about novel toxicity biomarkers and how they are being applied to human populations after being studied in animal models.