[Drug-induced jaundice]

Cholestasis induced by therapeutic drugs represents only one aspect of the far larger group of post microsomal terminal hepatocellular icterus, which is characterized by alterations of bilirubin excretion as well as of metabolism of bile acids. Drug induced cholestasis represents a special form of facultative toxic hepatosis, the occurrence of which is unpredictable. It is rather unknown where in the system of hepatocellular production and excretion of bile the medicaments in question are inducing lesions. Probably the mechanisms involved are far from being uniform. The possibility of a superordinated genetically caused insufficiency of the hepatocytic apparatus for excretions has to be considered for most cases.