Chronic Aggressive Hepatitis Induced by Halothane

Previous reports of halothane hepatitis have stressed the occurrence of acute hepatocellular necrosis, with relatively little or no attention given to the subsequent development of chronic liver disease. The patient reported here developed typical acute halothane hepatitis that later evolved into chronic aggressive hepatitis. Since the pathogenesis of halothane-induced liver damage may be immunologically mediated, the development of chronic active liver disease after acute halothane hepatitis may be commoner than presently thought.