Dihydralazine hepatitis: report of a case and review of the literature.

The authors report the case of a patient with hepatitis after the administration of dihydralazine, an analogue of hydralazine which is widely used in Europe. Hepatitis occurred during the administration of dihydralazine, quickly improved when the administration of dihydralazine was interrupted, and worsened again when it was resumed. Hepatitis was severe with hepatic encephalopathy and prolonged prothrombin time. There was centrizonal and bridging necrosis. After interruption of the drug administration, the outcome was favorable, but fibrotic sequelae were observed on a follow-up histologic examination.