title: Drug-induced acute liver disease.
abstract: Fifty-three patients with drug-induced acute liver disease are reported. There were 35 females and 18 males with a mean age of 41 years. All but one patient had jaundice or hyperbilirubinaemia and 51 had abnormal liver enzymes. Histologically 38 patients (72%) had cholestatic injury while 15 had cytotoxic parenchymal damage. Methyldopa, chlorpropamide, chlorpromazine, halothane and the contraceptive pill accounted for 60% of cases. Fifty-one patients recovered after drug withdrawal while 2 died of hepatic failure. Drug-induced liver injury must be considered in patients presenting with evidence of hepatic disease as the majority will recover on withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanchard
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors