[Severe forms of liver involvement in visceral leishmaniasis. Apropos of 7 cases].

In a series of 180 cases of Kala-azar, hepatic involvement was found in 16 patients. The authors report 7 cases of severe hepatitis with cytolysis, cholestasis and liver failure. These patients presented with high triglyceride, low cholesterol and low alpha-lipoprotein blood levels. The authors suggest that an activation of the mononuclear phagocyte system might explain these abnormalities.