Cholestatic jaundice associated with captopril therapy

Captopril has attained widespread use as an effective agent in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension. Dermatological, renal and haematological toxicity associated with its use has been widely described and is usually well recognized. There have been comparatively few reports implicating it as causing hepatic drug reactions. Most descriptions have emphasized strongly cholestatic features, although a mixed hepatocellular cholestatic picture and predominant hepatocellular reactions have been reported. Between November 1972 and June 1990 only five cases of possible Captopril-associated hepatic dysfunction were reported to the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee. Cases reported suggest equal sex distribution, latent period to development of abnormality between 1 week and 20 months, with slow resolution of jaundice and biochemical abnormality from 1 week to 6 months after withdrawal of the drug. One case of hepatic coma and death with massive acute hepatic necrosis on biopsy has been reported. Not uncommonly the accompanying systemic features suggest a syndrome of drug hypersensitivity. We report a case of Captopril-induced cholestatic jaundice in which the abnormality occurred 2 weeks after commencement of the drug and resolved slowly upon discontinuation. The case illustrates two important points: first, the importance of taking a full history, obtaining detailed information about previous drug administration in patients admitted with jaundice; and second, in the case of Captopril-induced liver disease, the jaundice may persist for many weeks after drug withdrawal.