Halothane hepatitis The anaesthetic agent halothane (CF,CHCIRr) causes two distinct types of liver damage. About 20% of halothane-exposed patients exhibit mild hepatotoxicity, characterized by transient elevations in liver enzymes. In contrast, a much smaller fraction of patients exposed to halothane (between 1 in 3500 and 1 in 35 000) develop severe hepatotoxicity, commonly termed ‘halothane h...

The volatile anesthetic halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane) is extensively metabolized in humans, with approximately 50% of an absorbed dose undergoing hepatic biotransformation (Carpenter et al., 1986). Halothane is a unique substrate, undergoing both oxidative and reductive P450-catalyzed dehalogenation during clinical anesthesia, with each metabolic pathway subtending a differ...

The effects of halothane on calcium transport by microtomes prepared from rat liver have been studied. Pre-incubation of microsomal suspensions in the presence of halothane, irreversibly inactivated ATPdependent calcium transport. The effects were doie-dependent and time-dependent and were potentiated by acid conditions (pH 6.0). The observed in vitro effects of halothane may, by increasing cyt...

We reported previously that nitrous oxide induces pre-emptive analgesia that is partially antagonized by naloxone and totally antagonized by halothane. The aims of this study were to determine if halothane and isoflurane are similar in this respect and to examine if volatile anaesthetics antagonize the analgesic effect of exogenous opioids. We found that 75% nitrous oxide prolonged tail-flick l...

Cyclophosphamide is the most commonly used alkylating agent for anti cancer chemotherapy and immunosuppression. Halothane and sevoflurane are volatile anesthetics and halothane has been demonstrated to enhance cyclophosphamide toxicity. However, the interaction between sevoflurane and cyclophosphamide has not yet been investigated. We evaluated the effects of cyclophosphamide on myocardial depr...

BACKGROUND The activity of canine expiratory neurons is primarily dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-receptor mediated excitatory chemodrive inputs and a powerful inhibitory gain modulatory mechanism mediated via gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) receptors. We examined whether the depressant effect of halothane on expiratory neuronal activity is primarily caused by a reduction in glu...

Intraperitoneal administration of halothane to rats causes an inflammatory reaction of the peritoneum. The degree of inflammation is dependent on the dose. The effects of this non-specific inflammatory reaction on the liver should be evaluated before conclusions relating to the effect of halothane administered by inhalation on the liver are drawn from the results of intraperitoneal administrati...

Three patients with severe halothane-induced liver injury are described. All patients received halothane anesthesia twice within a short period. High fever and jaundice were noticed soon after the second operation. The prothrombin time was less than 40%, and eosinophilia was greater than 7% prior to these symptoms. Other causes of liver injury were excluded. Diagnostic criteria for halothane-in...