[Liver and kidney damage in rifampicin and ethambutol treatment]

Case report on a 40 years old patient with pulmonary tuberculosis, in whom a treatment with Rifampicin plus Ethambutol has caused a transient hepatic and renal failure. By histology a chronic aggressive hepatitis and a destruction of renal tubular epithelium could be found. The etiologic role of Rifampicin is believed to be probable. Pathomechanism and differential diagnosis are discussed.