Methyldopa liver damage.
Twenty patients are described in whom liver damage appeared to be directly related to the administration of methyldopa. Sixteen had hepatitic syndromes from which they recovered on stopping methyldopa; four of these patients had recurrences of jaundice after a second course of the drug. Features suggestive of active chronic hepatitis were found in two patients. There were two deaths attributed to methyldopa, one of these being in a patient with pre-existing undiagnosed macronodular cirrhosis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001344:Autopsy; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007565:Jaundice / Q000139:chemically induced; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D009929:Organ Size; D012008:Recurrence
D008750:Methyldopa; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin