Halothane hepatitis: benign resolution of a severe lesion

Three patients with halothane hepatitis were studied during the acute phase of their illness and for 10 to 14 months thereafter. Clinical, biochemical, and histologic data were obtained initially and during the course of follow-up. Despite initially severe clinical and biochemical presentations, with extensive bridging hepatic necrosis on liver biopsy, all three patients resolved completely and had minimally abnormal liver biopsy appearances at last follow-up. The results of this study suggest that hepatic necrosis associated with halothane hypersensitivity is self-limited and that despite the initial severity of the hepatic lesion, postnecrotic cirrhosis does not develop. Based on these three patients' courses, survival of the acute bout of halothane hepatitis is apparently accompanied by an excellent prognosis ultimately, provided that reexposure to halothane is avoided.