"Experimentation" with chloroform

A young patient presented with unconsciousness, cardiac arrhythmias, arterial hypotension, and mild intravascular hemolysis after intentional inhalation of chloroform. After the initial complications had resolved, nausea, loss of appetite, and mild transitory jaundice developed. Chloroform-associated hepatotoxicity was biochemically and histologically documented. Facilitating factors included long-term moderate alcohol consumption and an initial episode of arterial hypoxemia. Chloroform inhalation for recreational purposes is probably uncommon. Yet, because of its delayed onset, chloroform poisoning should be considered in acute liver disease without a clear antecedent cause.