[Halothane and antituberculous drugs--a hepatotoxic combination? (author's transl)]

A case report is given on two patients receiving halothane anesthesia while beeing treated with isoniacid, ethambutol and rifampicin. Following halothane anesthesia, both patients developed a severe liver disease with encephalopathy grade III. We observed a moderate increase of bilirubin and SGOT and a more severe increase of serum ammonia. Histologically, both patients had alterations compatible with drug hepatitis. Within 14 days remission occurred spontaneously. The two case reports do not fit with typical isoniacid hepatitis or typical halothane hepatitis. The possibility of combined drug toxicity on liver during halothane and isocianid treatment is discussed.